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Egg roll at the White House lawn, 1929

Egg rolling, or an Easter egg roll is a traditional game with eggs played at Easter. Different nations have different versions of the game, usually played with hard-boiled decorated eggs. Image File history File links Gnome-globe. ... Download high resolution version (864x633, 99 KB)Source: Library of Congress TITLE: Easter egg rolling at the White House today (April 1, 1929) National Photo Company Collection. ... Download high resolution version (864x633, 99 KB)Source: Library of Congress TITLE: Easter egg rolling at the White House today (April 1, 1929) National Photo Company Collection. ... Look up egg in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Ukrainian Easter eggs Egg decorating is the easter special. ...

History

The pre-Christian Saxons had a spring goddess Eostre, whose feast was held on the Vernal Equinox, around 21st March. Her animal was the spring hare, and the rebirth of the land in spring was symbolised by the egg. Pope Gregory the Great ordered his missionaries to use old religious sites and festivals and absorb them into Christian rituals where possible. The Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Christ was ideally suited to be merged with the pagan feast of Eostre and many of the traditions were adopted into the Christian festivities.^[1] For other uses, see Saxon (disambiguation). ... Eostre (Easter) and Ostara are the name of a putative Germanic goddess. ... The Forum for European-Australian Science and Technology Cooperation (FEAST) is a non-government organisation aimed at highlighting and developing collaborative research activities between Europe (European countries and the European Union) and Australia. ... Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of equinox The vernal equinox (or spring equinox) marks the beginning of astronomical spring. ... Gregory I Pope Saint Gregory I or Gregory the Great (called the Dialogist in Eastern Orthodoxy) (c. ... For other uses, see Festival (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... According to the New Testament, especially the Gospels, God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. ...

United States

The Reagans at the 1982 White House Easter Egg Roll.

In the United States, the Easter Egg Roll has become a much-loved annual event, and is held on the White House lawn each Easter Monday for children and their parents. The custom was brought to America along with other German traditions such as the Easter bunny.^[2] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ... A lawn is an area of recreational or amenity land planted with grass, and sometimes clover and other plants, which are maintained at a low, even height. ... Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is celebrated as a holiday in some largely Christian cultures. ...

The Egg Roll itself is a race, where children push an egg through the grass with a long-handled club. Surrounding events, such as appearances by White House personalities in Easter Bunny costumes, speeches and book-reading by Cabinet secretaries, and exhibits of artistically-decorated eggs, make the day into a bigger festival. This article is about the holiday figure. ... In the British Government, the Cabinet Secretary, or more formally Secretary of the Cabinet, is the senior civil servant in charge of the Cabinet Office, a department that provides administrative support to the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, and the government as a whole. ...

Dolly Madison the wife of President James Madison began the event in 1814 and hundreds of children brought their decorated eggs to join in games. The original site was on the grounds of the United States Capitol but in 1877 a new lawn was planted and the gardeners cancelled the event. Congress then passed a law making it illegal to use the grounds as a children's playground. At the request of a number of children, including his own, the then President, Rutherford B. Hayes brought the event to the White House lawns.^[3] The practice was abandoned during Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency, and revived by Mamie Eisenhower during her husband's term in office. Mrs. Eisenhower opened the event to black children for the first time.^[4] Biography Dolly Madison created ice cream. ... James Madison (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836), was an American politician and the fourth President of the United States (1809–1817), and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. ... The United States Capitol is the capitol building that serves as the location for the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. ... Rutherford Birchard Hayes (October 4, 1822 – January 17, 1893) was an American politician, lawyer, military leader and the nineteenth President of the United States (1877–1881). ... FDR redirects here. ... Mamie Geneva Doud Eisenhower (November 14, 1896 – November 1, 1979) was the wife of General and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and First Lady of the United States from 1953 to 1961. ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ...

United Kingdom

At Easter in the United Kingdom, some people roll hard-boiled (and usually painted) eggs down steep hills. Like the American version, this is primarily a children's activity, though it is not usually an organised event. Each child will paint an egg before going to the hill (perhaps as part of an after-lunch walk) and a winner is typically nominated based on which egg gets furthest before breaking up. There may also be some kind of competition for the best-decorated egg. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ...

Britain also has a tradition somewhat similar to the American egg-roll described above, though the egg and spoon race is not at all associated with Easter. In primary schools throughout the United Kingdom, eggs play an important role in the Egg and Spoon Race, where an egg is placed on a small spoon receptacle, and the children run along straight track, the object being to: Win the race as usual, and Not smash the egg by...

See also

• National Christmas Tree (United States), another White House tradition
• Lawn game

In the United States, a large tree near the White House is decorated as the National Christmas Tree. ... For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ... Lawn game is a generic term for outdoor games that can be played on a lawn. ...

References

1. ^ england-in-particular: Easter Retrieved on 2008-03-14
2. ^ Easter Eggs: their origins, tradition and symbolism Retrieved on 2008-03-14
3. ^ Lent to Pentecost, a family event: Easter Egg Rolling Retrieved on 2008-03-14
4. ^ New York Times: The egg roll (again!) becomes a stage for controversy Retrieved on 2008-03-14

2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (common) era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 73rd day of the year (74th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (common) era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 73rd day of the year (74th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (common) era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 73rd day of the year (74th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (common) era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 73rd day of the year (74th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• History of the White House Easter Egg Roll