 They employed multiple festivities, exciting parades, and even quasi-religious pilgrimages and "sacred" days that became incorporated into the American civil religion.George Washington was always its hero, and after his death he became a sort of demigod looking down from heaven to instill his blessings on the party.At first the Federalists focused on commemoration of the ratification of the Constitution; they organized parades to demonstrate widespread popular support for the new Federalist Party.