March-past is a military PARADE or procession in which troops march in formation past a reviewing stand. It is usually accompanied by music and is often used to mark special occasions such as national holidays or the arrival of a new commanding officer. The term march-past is derived from the French word marche, which means 'to march'. The term PARADE is also used to describe this type of event, but it is more commonly used to refer to a public procession or demonstration.