Biden White House BANS religious imagery from Easter egg art contest

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the origins of the art contest for National Guard families and its ban on religious imagery. The contest has been around since 2021. The ban on religious imagery comes from the American Egg Board and has has been in effect over multiple administrations.

Children of National Guard families are invited to submit Easter egg designs to the White House for the annual "egg roll" party—so long as those designs are not at all religious. Easter, of course, is the key holiday in the Christian liturgical calendar. The entire purpose of the holiday is to celebrate the resurrection of the Christian lord and savior Jesus Christ who, according to liturgy, died to take away the sins of the world.

For the Biden White House, however, Christianity is irrelevant to Easter. This year, on behalf of First Lady Jill Biden, the White House has declared that any religious symbolism on the eggs, the symbol of rebirth representing Jesus' resurrection, would not be permitted.

Restrictions include that "The Submission must not include any questionable content, religious symbols, overtly religious themes, or partisan political statements." The language per the ban on religious imagery comes from the American Egg Board, per the AP, which stated "The American Egg Board is a commodity checkoff program... All such programs must follow federal guidelines, including prohibitions on religious discrimination."

This was "the third annual 'Colonnade of Eggs' exhibit at the White House, which honors the first lady’s support of military-connected families," the AP reports, all of which have banned religious imagery from the egg designs. That ban has been in place since the start of the contest under the Biden administration.

One wonders what they think the holiday is intended to celebrate.

"Celebrating Easter is one of the oldest time-honored traditions at the White House," the flier to National Guard families reads. "Since 1878, American presidents and their families have celebrated Easter Monday by hosting an 'egg roll' party. Held on the South Lawn, it is one of the oldest annual events in White House history. It has changed and evolved through the years and each First Family has put their stamp on the popular event."

America's Egg Farmers present "an intricately decorated Commemorative Easter Egg to the First Lady of the United States" every year, and have done for 50 years. The flier continues to not that "In 2021, the White House expanded on this longstanding tradition by displaying youth-designed Easter eggs in the White House East Colonnade." 

The call for submissions, however, undermines the entire holiday. The artwork, which is meant to "celebrate" military families, was not be permitted to have any reference to Easter. Suggestions for submissions include "a snapshot of [the children's] life - a favorite activity, scenery in your state, your military family, a day-in-your life, etc."

The winning submissions "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."

In addition to standard conditions that the design must not be "inappropriate, indecent, obscene hateful, tortious, defamatory, slanderous or libelous," and that it "must not contain 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," are the prohibition on "religious symbols, overtly religious themes."

The Biden White House has pushed diversity, equity, and inclusion for minorities and LGBTQ groups, but has declined to uphold pride or appreciation for Christian religions or those who practice that faith. The Christmas display at the White House, organized by First Lady Biden, had no reference at all to the meaning of the holiday and was instead a jazzy performance art interpretation of the Nutcracker by a dance troupe that promotes anti-white values.

2024 Youth Art Egg Flyer White House by Libby Emmons on Scribd