WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- When first U.S. president George Washington left his home in Mount Vernon, Virginia, to attend his inauguration in New York City in 1789, militias along the way joined the procession.

    When he finally arrived in New York, local officials, dignitaries, soldiers of the Continental Army and congressmen accompanied him to Federal Hall for the swearing-in ceremony.

    Over time, this evolved into the Inauguration Day parade.

    Nowadays, inaugural parades include military and marching bands and floats representing all aspects of American life.

    Although George Washington did have an informal ball after his inauguration, the first official Inaugural Ball was held in honor of James Madison in 1809.

    As more people wanted to share in the festivities, later inaugurals included multiple public balls throughout the capital and some in other cities.

    Bill Clinton's second inauguration set the present record with 14 official inaugural balls.