Christmas ships facts for kids
Christmas ships are special boat parades that happen around Christmas time. These parades feature boats covered in bright Christmas lights and fun holiday decorations. It's like a floating light show on the water!
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The History of Christmas Ships
Early Christmas Tree Ships
In the 1800s, many German and Irish immigrants in the United States needed Christmas trees. To meet this demand, people used boats to ship trees from places like Michigan and Wisconsin down to Chicago. These boats were sometimes called "Christmas tree ships."
One famous Christmas tree ship was the Rouse Simmons. Sadly, it sank in Lake Michigan in 1912. Even after this, Christmas tree shipping continued in Chicago until the 1930s.
Ships of Gifts and Songs
In the early 1900s, ships carrying Christmas gifts for people were also known as "Christmas ships." These gift-laden ships even inspired a popular song during World War I called "Hurrah! Hurrah for the Christmas Ship".
Famous Christmas Ship Parades
Seattle's Holiday Fleet
Seattle, Washington, held its very first Christmas ship parade in 1941. However, because of World War II and special "blackout" rules, the boats couldn't have any lights.
From 1949 to 1993, the Seattle Department of Parks organized the festival. Since 1994, Argosy Cruises has taken over. Their parades sail many times a day during December. A main boat leads the way, traveling to different spots on Lake Washington and in Puget Sound. A group of singers on the boat performs Christmas carols for people watching from the shore. Other private boats, decorated for the season, can follow the main boat.
Portland's River Celebrations
Portland, Oregon, has hosted its own Christmas ships festival since 1954. These parades take place on the Columbia River and Willamette River. The boat parades happen almost every night for several weeks in December, lighting up the rivers.
Other Festive Cities
Many other cities also host Christmas ships festivals. These include Newport Beach, California, which has the Newport Beach Christmas boat parade. You can also find these parades in places like Philadelphia, San Diego, Daytona Beach, Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Yorktown, Virginia, and Port Moody, British Columbia.
