The New York City Easter Parade
by Martin Ingber
By the time that Easter arrives each year, New Yorkers have had more than enough of dreary, cold and colorless winter weather; and they are ready to take to the streets and celebrate any signs of Spring.
The ‘Easter Parade’ is a misnomer- this is no conventional parade, but instead an organic, unorganized and chaotic mass gathering that floods the streets surrounding the landmark Saint Patrick’s Cathedral on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue.
The crowds consist of a curious mix of many: church-goers come for religious services; spirited fashionistas excited to contribute to the holiday festivities with their inventive hats and outrageous costumes; a representative sampling of eccentric New York street people; and, seemingly, everyone in between. Some come to pose, others come to protest; while most come to party, as part of a sprawling, outdoor street celebration. Fanciful ‘Easter bonnets’ are everywhere, along with various rabbit ear headdresses, creative costumes of every kind, and even the occasional Jesus figure.
Throughout, the mood is invariably upbeat; and nowhere is New York’s reputation as a cultural and social ‘melting pot’ more evident than here.
According to The Museum of the City of New York, "The tradition of the Easter parade began after the American Civil War as a ‘fashion promenade’, rooted in the custom of a Sunday walk following religious service. Wealthy New Yorkers would emerge from their respective houses of worship along Fifth Avenue to stroll down the street, dine at nearby hotels, or pay social calls.”
Whatever the origins of this event back in the 1800s, here in the 21st Century the Easter Parade is essentially a celebration of Spring, of creativity, and of commonality. Visually, it resembles a daytime version of the city’s famous Village Halloween Parade, more than a respectable stroll by wealthy aristocrats in hoop skirts and elaborate outfits during the Gilded Age, long ago.
Like the city itself, today’s Easter Parade can be fascinating, overwhelming, impossible to fully capture, and great fun to experience.
