Religious-Themed Designs Banned from White House Easter Egg Contest

Children of the National Guard have been banned from submitting religious-themed Easter egg designs for the 2024 “Celebrating National Guard Families” art event at the White House. 

According to the event’s flyer, an Easter egg design submission “must not include any questionable content, religious symbols, overtly religious themes, or partisan political statements.” 

“As part of the White House Easter traditions, America’s Egg Farmers – for nearly 50 years – have proudly presented an intricately decorated Commemorative Easter Egg to the First Lady of the United States. In 2021, the White House expanded on this longstanding tradition by displaying youth-designed Easter eggs in the White House East Colonnade,” the flyer explains.

“On behalf of First Lady Jill Biden, The Adjutants General of the National Guard are asking youth from National Guard families across the United States and all U.S. territories to submit artwork inspired by the theme ‘Celebrating our Military Families,’” the flyer continues.

Children have been asked to design eggs with images based on their own lives.

“Selected designs representing the unique experience and stories of National Guard children will be brought to life on real hen eggs by talented egg artists from across the country and displayed at the White House this Easter and Passover season,” the flyer says.

Children also have been instructed not to create material that promotes “bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age” in their designs. 

Selected designs will be painted by artists on real eggs and displayed at the White House.