An Easter (Monday) Tradition

Yesterday, tens of millions of Americans celebrated Easter, with many families partaking in traditions that go back generations.  There are egg hunts and Easter baskets, chocolate rabbits and church services.  Many of these traditions are fairly similar across the world, wherever the holiday is celebrated.   In the Washington DC area, however, there's an added tradition among the District's Black population, and this one takes place the Monday after Easter.

Go to the Zoo.

It's not entirely clear when or why going to the National Zoo on the Monday after Easter Sunday became traditional among the African American community in the nation's capital.  One theory is that Monday was the day that many Black families, many of whom were employed as servants, were given the day off after working Easter dinner for their employers the previous day.  The Zoo was seen as a nice place for a rare day off in springtime, and that's where families congregated.  Another theory is that the holiday was in response to the segregation which kept Black children from participating in the White House Easter Egg Roll on the lawn of the President's house, a rule which remained in place until the Eisenhower years.  Unwelcome at the main Easter festivities, Black families went somewhere else.  

The Roll is now open to all, but the Zoo still remains a popular destination for families on Easter Monday.  By now the tradition is over a century old.  The Zoo is proud to market the history behind the event every spring.