The Easter Parade: Blossoms, Bonnets, and the Celebration of Renewal

by Kimberly Keagan
April 2, 2025

Before Easter became associated with chocolate bunnies and colorful eggs, it was—and remains—a cornerstone of the Christian calendar: a day of rejoicing, worship, and proclaiming that Christ is risen. But for many in cities around the U.S.—especially in New York—during the late 1800s and early 1900s, Easter Sunday didn’t end at the church doors. Instead, it flowed onto the streets in a display of faith, beauty, and renewal known as the Easter Parade.

While it eventually grew into a cultural spectacle, the Easter Parade began as an extension of worship, a way for believers to honor the resurrection of Jesus not only through song and Scripture, but through symbols of springtime and new life.

The early seeds of the Easter Parade were planted in the great churches of New York—Trinity Church, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and St. Thomas’ Episcopal, to name a few. During the mid-19th century, these congregations began adorning their sanctuaries with lilies, palms, and spring blooms to reflect the joy and hope of the Resurrection.

Though some traditionalists resisted the idea at first, the practice of decorating churches with elaborate floral displays quickly caught on. These weren’t just decorations—they were visual sermons on the themes of abundance, renewal, and eternal life.

In those days, dressing well for Easter was seen as a way to reflect the inner transformation Christ brings. For many Christians—especially immigrants and working-class families—wearing new clothes on Easter was an act of dignity, a symbol of being “clothed in new life.”

By the 1880s, the Easter Parade had grown into a beloved tradition, with New Yorkers leaving church and strolling along Fifth Avenue in a joyful procession. What began as a quiet walk to admire the floral beauty of other sanctuaries became an informal pageant where faith and fashion mingled in the open air.

The parade became a prominent socialite affair, drawing the wealthy and fashionable to display their latest garments and elaborate hats. But it also drew the attention of the public—and the press. Newspapers and magazines published photos of attendees in their finery, and soon the parade became a nationwide symbol of Easter celebration, both sacred and social.

As the parade grew, so did commercial interest. By 1900, Easter was nearly as important to retailers as Christmas, with advertisements linking spring clothing and household goods to the joy of the season.

While some saw this as harmless fun, others raised concerns. Christian critics worried that the spiritual meaning of Easter was being overshadowed by materialism and the pursuit of status. And during hard times—especially the Great Depression—protesters marched alongside the parade to draw attention to poverty, unemployment, and injustice. Some held signs comparing the cost of a gown to a family’s annual relief.

In this, the Easter Parade became a mirror: reflecting both the beauty of God’s provision and the brokenness of the world that still longed for redemption.

By the mid-20th century, the religious emphasis of the Easter Parade had largely faded in the public eye. Yet, for those who walk in faith, the origins are not forgotten. The parade reminds us of a time when joy in Christ’s victory over death overflowed from pulpits into the streets, when new clothes symbolized new hearts, and when communities gathered to publicly celebrate the hope of the Resurrection.

Today, while the Fifth Avenue Easter Parade continues—complete with whimsical hats and joyful crowds—Christians can look back on its history and see a deeper message: that beauty, celebration, and even fashion can be used to honor the One who makes all things new.

(Photo credits: Library of Congress, Museum of the City of New York, The New-York Historical Society, Wikimedia Commons)