Ceremonial scissors have turned ribbon cuttings into elaborate and sophisticated events, but the idea is a simple concept that has been around for ages. The cutting of the ribbon symbolizes the ‘opening’ of something new, much like when a ribbon is cut from a nicely packaged gift before unwrapping. It builds anticipation with the promise of something exciting.

I am proud to attend all the ribbon cutting ceremonies for our new businesses that have chosen to call the Town of Parker their home!

The use of giant scissors and extra wide ribbon is a novelty that evolved as the ceremony became more of a publicity stunt of modern PR. Disney was one of the most prominent companies to use ribbon cuttings every time a new park or attraction would open. This aside, Disney was known for consistently making use of giant ribbon cutting scissors to cut the ribbon at their debut events. Big name celebrities and politicians like Shirley Temple and Richard Nixon, among many others, were often invited to do the honors.

Rumor has it that the history of the ribbon cutting ceremony dates back to 1898, when the first railway track was laid down to the Junction City passing through Union Parish, Louisiana.  However, it wasn’t always a tradition for ribbon cuttings to make use of giant scissors and ribbon.  

Customarily, the ribbon cutting was seen as only a gesture to mark a new beginning. Back in the 1900s, netting the moment for keepsakes with a Black and White Film Camera did not do the trick of capturing minute details of a shot, unlike today’s modern gizmos. But what it did create was a moment for people to remember. This helped spread the news of the company via word of mouth with people ultimately paying a visit to the business.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was by itself a new and fashionable trend back in the day; however, it was kept modest and not many resources went into the looks of the ceremonial scissors or décor for the event. Many vintage photos show the use of normal sized—even small— ribbon cutting scissors. This was probably because the scissors were not typically preserved for display after the ribbon cutting ceremony. Eventually, with the advent and evolution of custom printing technology, the glamor quotient of these ribbon cuttings phenomenally saw a spike thanks to the branding and personalization of the ceremonial scissors.

source:  ceremonialsupplies.com