WASHINGTON — With about 30,000 kids, parents and celebrities, the 136th Easter Egg Roll at the White House did not disappoint. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hosted the annual event, with first dogs Sunny and Bo in tow.
“It is our most fun event, because we have a chance to see families from all across the country coming through here.” President Obama said.
Since the Obama’s first Easter Egg Roll in 2009, the theme is consistent with health and fitness in alignment with the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” initiative. This year’s Easter Egg Roll theme is “Hop into Healthy, Swing into Shape,” to encourage children towards more physical activity. “We want our kids to be the healthiest and the strongest they can be, so they can do well in school and live up to all of their God-given potential,” the First Lady said to the crowd as she encouraged parents to join her in activities during the Easter Egg Roll day, which included demonstrations to make healthy snacks, and recreational activities, first and foremost the Easter Egg Roll race.
Although the “Hop into Healthy, Swing into Shape!” theme puts a new twist on the annual event, the Easter Egg Roll has been around for a long time.
The first White House Easter Egg Roll was held by President Hayes in 1878 and is traditionally held on the first Monday after Easter. According to the White House website, African American children were not allowed until Mamie Eisenhower made it possible during the 1950s. The White House Easter Bunny did not make a debut at the event until 1969, courtesy of First Lady, Pat Nixon.
The White House Keepsake eggs are a unique highlight every year. The White House cites that the commemorative egg tradition began with an Easter egg hunt for wooden eggs in 1981, with President Reagan. This year’s eggs are pink, orange, blue, green and a purple egg with pictures of Bo and Sunny.