Happy Easter

The Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival in New York City begins at 4:00 p.m. today, so if you have a fancy bonnet, there's still time to hop a train and get there. The parade marches north on Fifth Avenue from 49th Street to 57th Street. 

Photo: thecubancarrie | Instagram

The parade has been a tradition in New York since the 19th century. The photo below shows the parade in 1890.

Interestingly, the event didn't start out as a parade. The first occasion in New York for showing off Easter finery was a gathering in Central Park on Easter in April 1873. The next day, the New York Times reported:  

Many couples were promenading who had certainly come from St. Thomas' and other Fifth avenue churches, for their prayer-books were still in their hands. It seemed to be a universal exodus. There were ladies in the most delicate Spring attire, poor sewing and shop girls in their Easter finery, ragged little children playing tag, to the great scandal of the strait-laced. 

You can read more about it here.