The United States White House Easter Egg Roll
According to the oft told tradition, Dolley Madison, wife of President James Madison (1809-1817) was responsible for the first Egg Roll.* It was not held at the White House but on the grounds of the Capitol. An old description of that first celebration reads:
At first the children sit sedately in long rows; each has brought a basket of gay-colored hard-boiled eggs, and those on the upper terrace send them rolling to the line next below, and those pass on the ribbon-like streams to hundreds at the foot, who scramble for the hopping eggs and hurry panting to the top to start them down again. And as the sport warms, those on top who have rolled all the eggs they brought finally roll themselves, shrieking with laughter. Now comes a swirl of curls, ribbons and furbelows, somebody's dainty maid indifferent to the bumps and grass stains. A set of boys who started in a line of six with joined hands are trying to come down in somersaults without breaking the chain...
As might be imagined, not everyone was pleased with this kind of activity (not to mention the effect it had on the Capitol lawn) and it was discontinued in 1878. The old story claimed that this caused unhappy children carrying their Easter baskets to march to the White House in protest. They were invited to use the White House lawn by a sympathetic President Rutherford B. Hayes and his wife.
The White House Egg Roll is now a tradition. Adults are admitted to the usually private White House grounds only if accompanied by a child. Eggs and candy are hidden for the children to find, and eggs are rolled down the slight slope of the south of the Truman balcony. If in town, the President and First Lady are sure to mingle with the throng.
* Although frequently quoted in books about Easter, I have no definitive evidence of this tale but it makes a nice story. If you have primary evidence, please share it with us. It is a frequently discussed subject. Back to top.
Back to Easter Eggs
These pages ©1995-99 are maintained by Rosemary (Rosie) Winters rosiee@night.net.
//04/30/96
