Let’s talk Easter Parades. Originally the Easter Parade was an outing, after church on Easter Sunday where one showed oneself to the community after the long winter, displayed new clothes and dragged about marriageable sons and daughters (all polished up and well turned out.) So, I want to emphasize that the Easter Parade Tradition is nothing about Easter and everything about puttin’ on the dog. It’s not a religious event, but many communities observe these parades religiously. And dogs in fancy dress are featuring big time.
In New York City, you and your pup can participate in the annual Easter Parade on Easter Sunday from about 11:00-4:00 between 49th and 57th streets. No, it’s not a formal parade, but a genial mill around where one walks up and down the traffic-free blocks enjoying the fabulous hats and demonstrating good will by either photographing the hats or wearing a hat oneself. About the dog- please do make puppy a hat and a super costume. If puppy looks good, you can wear your denim and go unnoticed (and unadmired). Puppy will attract a host of polite photographers, and, frequently, the attention of the press. New York City’s Easter Parade is NYC at its finest with everybody contributing decorously to a moment of joy and creativity.
I suspect most communities have Easter Parades featuring Easter Dogs of all religious persuasions. For a fun day out, seek out your local parade and participate. Attached are several photos of New York’s parade from 2008 and of Raja as the bunny-dog of the hour. As you see, everybody makes his or her hat. Raja’s hat was made from materials purchased at Michael’s Crafts, although we told everybody the hat was by a famous Paris canine hatter, Les Chapeaux Méchants. That’s what they wanted to hear anyway.