Even
if that “somebody” were the President of the United States!
The
White House Easter Egg Roll involves children racing down a marked
lane, pushing a decorated hard-boiled egg through the grass with a
long-handled spoon. Of course, there are other activities offered in
addition to the Easter egg roll. There are games, stories, and even
cooking demonstrations.
Check
out the official White House page, which includes an activity book
you can download and videos of highlights of past years' egg rolls.
Who
started the White House Easter Egg Roll?
During
Andrew Johnson's presidency, just after the Civil War, groups of kids
did egg-rolling on the grounds of the Capitol. (Actually, some
sources say that kids rolled eggs on the Capitol grounds as early as
1814, at the invitation of First Lady Dolley Madison.) At any rate,
some members of Congress (probably cranky old men) got upset that
kids were messing up their lawn. In 1877, when a new lawn was put in,
egg rolling on the lawn was prohibited; Congress even passed a law
making it illegal to use the Capitol's grounds as “a children's
playground.”
Some
kids asked the president at the time, Rutherford Hayes, if they might
not use the White House lawn. (He had kids of his own, and they might
have been the kids bold enough to ask this question!) He and his wife
gave permission, and so in 1878 a tradition was born.
Although
egg toss and egg croquet and other activities have been added to the
Easter Monday event, rolling decorated hard boiled eggs is the focus.
This year will be the 135th White House Egg Roll. In a
tradition started by the Reagans, kids who participate get a
commemorative wooden egg with signatures of the President and First
Lady (and some with paw prints of Bo, the First Dog!).
Also
on this date:
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