PASADENA, CALIFORNIA (REUTERS) - Hundreds of volunteers gathered in Pasadena, California, on Thursday (Dec 29), to put the finishing touches on floats scheduled to appear in the 128th annual Tournament of Roses, more commonly known as the New Year's Day Rose Parade.

Forty floats will make their way through Pasadena, each decorated with thousands of flowers, seeds and beans, said Mr Chris Lofthouse, president and CEO of Phoenix Decorating Company.

Phoenix Decorating Company is one of three firms that participate in decorating the floats. This year Phoenix is decorating 17 of the parade's floats.

The Rose Parade is normally held on Jan 1, but it has a longstanding tradition that it is "never on a Sunday". That means that this year's parade will take place on Monday (Jan 2). The rule was established in 1893.

The annual Rose Bowl Game will also take place on Monday, after the completion of the parade.