This is a favorite time of the year for many people. With the weather cooling off, the landscape changing, and family and friends preparing for the holiday season – autumn is truly a special time. We love the vivid colors of fall – the reds, oranges, and golds are rich and luxurious and give off an inviting air. At Walter Knoll Florist, we have been decorating St. Louis homes with the magic of Thanksgiving tradition for over 130 years.

Walter Knoll Florist opened its doors in 1883, and we have seen a lot of Thanksgiving celebrations since then. In fact, although the first Thanksgiving was in 1621, and it became an official holiday in 1863, some of our other favorite traditions actually originated after the establishment of the flower shop! For instance, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade began in 1924. The parade was the idea of many Macy’s employees who were immigrants and wanted to celebrate their gratitude for their new home. Originally, balloons were released into the sky at the end of the parade, but within 10 years the famous Macy’s Day balloons made their debut, with Felix the Cat and Mickey Mouse being the first two characters.

Our shop also predates another one of our favorite celebrations – Thanksgiving Day football! It was in 1934 that the Detroit Lions came up with the idea of playing a game on Thanksgiving Day. Fighting lagging attendance and not enough fans, they decided to play a game on a day that didn’t compete with all the other big games, and a tradition was born. The Lions have not missed taking the field on Thanksgiving Day in nearly 9 decades. It was 1966 when the Dallas Cowboys became the second team guaranteed to play on the holiday, and in 1966 the NFL added a third game in the evening, although the roster rotates.

Walter Knoll Florist has been a part of your Thanksgiving tradition for over 130 years- providing gorgeous seasonal arrangements and stunning centerpieces that transform your home. This year, become a part of our Saint Louis tradition and order your Thanksgiving flowers early – our floral designers will guarantee that your holiday table is memorable and beautiful.