The horrific parade is a tradition in many American communities where people dress up in comical and monstrous costumes. It has roots in death parades from medieval Europe and is also seen in other parts of the world. The parade allows for creative expression and commentary on social issues. The term “parade of horrifics” is also used rhetorically.
A horrific parade is a parade in which people don grotesque and usually comical costumes. It is part of the July 1800 celebrations in many American communities, some of which have featured such a parade since the XNUMXth. This tradition probably has its roots in the death parades common in medieval Europe, in which someone dressed up as Death and led a parade of “victims” through the countryside.
Adults and children alike dress up in monstrous costumes and stagger through the streets in a parade of creepy-crawlies. The effect is often designed to be comedic, with costumes that may reference ongoing social issues in an attempt to bring levity to serious situations. Parodies of public figures, for example, are often found grinning at the audience, and elaborate parades may feature floats and marchers.
Parades of horrifics are also seen in other regions of the world on major holidays. In all cases, the tradition is designed to give members of a community a creative outlet to express concerns about the direction their societies are taking, or simply an opportunity to have fun while dressing up in silly costumes. In a country with limited free speech, these events can sometimes be used as a vehicle to comment on living conditions, since parade participants often have more leeway than they normally would, especially since they are typically heavily disguised.
The term “parade of horrifics” is also used rhetorically. Some people use the term literally, referring to a group of individuals who are held responsible for a problem, as in “the parade of awful things at the Department of Agriculture didn’t regulate the industry like they should have.” The term is also used to refer to a rhetorical device in which someone quotes a list of theoretical outcomes of a decision in an attempt to dissuade someone from making that decision.
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