The welcome arrival of spring is often met with the Easter Egg Roll tradition and particularly the famous annual White House Egg Roll. Everyone can get in on the Easter Egg Roll fun. Discover what an Easter Egg Roll is and how you can host this lighthearted activity yourself.
History of the Easter Egg Roll. The Egg Roll became a yearly mainstay and tradition 134 years ago. The National Park Service states that the original site of the Easter Monday Egg Roll was the United States Capitol lawn. In later years, the Egg Roll was moved to the White House in order to preserve the Capitol’s lawns. In 1878, President Rutherford B. Hayes reinstated the Egg Roll tradition at the White House. The White House Easter Egg Roll was celebrated until it was canceled from 1917 to 1920 during World War I. The egg roll was canceled again from 1943 to 1945 during World War II for rationing. President Dwight D. Eisenhower reinstated the celebration in 1953 with 6,000 attendees.
Today’s White House Easter Egg Roll. The Easter Egg Roll is currently played on the South Lawn of the White House. Children roll eggs with long wooden spoons through the tall grass and across the finish line. Each year’s Egg Roll has an exciting theme. Additional activities include games, sports, food, stories and celebrity appearances. The White House posts highlights of many past Easter Egg Rolls that are not only informative but also fun to watch. You can apply for a ticket to the White House Easter Egg Roll at Recreation.gov. The tickets are free and winners are decided by online lottery.
Host an Egg Roll. Can’t make it to the White House this year? Don’t worry. You can host your own Egg Roll in the comforts of your home. Invite a bunch of friends and family. Pick a grassy spot for the game. A small slope or hill makes the game even more fun. Gather plenty of decorated, plastic or your favorite type of eggs and long spoons. Set up your course. You will need to determine a route and finish line. Instruct participants to use the spoon to roll his or her egg across the finish line. Issue prizes to the winners. Have lots of prizes on hand for all the winners, if you see fit. Why not make the Egg Roll even more fun by including a picnic and additional games to round out the celebration?
