How Is Easter Monday Celebrated in United States of America?
How Is Easter Monday Celebrated in United States of America? Some Easter traditions continue on the Easter Monday, such as the egg rolling race at the White House. There is a big race held on the lawn of the White House in Washington DC on Easter Monday. Eggs are rolled down a hill or slope and there is a variety of activities, as well as food and entertainment, for families.
The White House Easter egg collection involves a tradition that began in 1994 where each state sends a decorated egg to the White House for display. Artists from across the United States created decorated eggs that represent each state and the District of Columbia. Each year the artists vote among themselves to select the artist to create the following year’s commemorative egg which is presented to the President and First Lady. The collection is coordinated by the American Egg Board.
In Pagan times, many groups of people organized spring festivals. Many of these celebrated the re-birth of nature, the return the land to fertility and the birth of many young animals. These are the origins of the Easter eggs that we still hunt for and eat.
In Christian times, the spring began to be associated with the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The crucifixion is remembered on Good Friday and the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The idea of the resurrection joined with the ideas of re-birth in Pagan beliefs. For people with strong Christian beliefs, the Cross, on which Jesus was crucified, and the Resurrection are important symbols of the period around Easter.
Other symbols of Easter include real eggs or eggs manufactured from a range of materials, nests, lambs and rabbits or hares. Eggs, rabbits, hares and young animals are thought to represent the re-birth and return to fertility of nature in the spring.