in the uk, there is a tradition to do easter bonnet parades among nursery- and school-aged children. parents make these crafty little bonnets, which children wear as they march around in a circle. apparently much like halloween costumes in the us, the bonnets are judged and prizes are awarded.
we have little projects (i call them "parent projects") like this about once a month in nursery--something i didn't really understand until madeline started attending. maddie has to go in to school dressed as her favourite storybook character for world book day, dressed in red for red nose day, dressed in spring colours for "celebrate spring day." i haven't been very good about these events and in fact didn't dress her as a character a few months back, and have felt guilty ever since. at the time, my rationale was that she didn't even know she was dressed up, so why should i go out and buy a costume?
anyway, we didn't even get instruction to make a bonnet as we have with other parent projects. it was assumed we would know we should do this for the scheduled "easter bonnet parade" which takes place tomorrow. luckily one of my girlfriends started stressing about her son's bonnet a few weeks ago and bought all sorts of bits and pieces like little chickens and ducks to glue onto her creation. she was describing this to me, saying "i'm not crafty like you so need to work on this in advance" when it dawned on me it was probably something i was expected to do as well. sure enough, i checked with nursery today, and the parade and judging are tomorrow morning.
we didn't do this in the states, at least where i was growing up, so i really don't have the first clue what an easter bonnet is supposed to look like. the bonnets i know about are pretty little hats that you wear to church. but maddie needs her hat, so i went out and got some little wooden easter eggs and a stuffed chick, and this afternoon i spent my lunch hour sewing these bits onto an orange floppy hat. this probably breaks all sorts of parenting rules, but i think i'll pack this bonnet away after easter is over and get it out next year. until maddie is old enough to notice she's wearing a special hat and is likely to keep it on long enough to walk around in a circle--in fact i should say until she's old enough to actually walk around in a circle, something that at this point is still a stretch--i have done my crafty mummy duty.
Never heard of such a thing. Maybe it's because I lived a sheltered life! :-)
Posted by: Andrea | April 05, 2007 at 02:18 AM
I have never heard of this either, but my kids are doing it at their preschool too. I just spent 1/2 a day shopping for and making two hats. (this is after stressing about this project for days and thus procrastinating about it.) The twins didn't even want to try them on, so we'll see how this hat parade goes tomorrow. And they are only two years old! I guess I need to learn how to use a glue gun - this is just the beginning.
Posted by: Kim | April 05, 2007 at 10:57 AM
What a blast!
Next year, give me fair warning and I'll send her something from her Auntie Lain (who is currently running around town picking up the bits and pieces needed for Ben's class's Easter craft tomorrow...).
xoooxx
Lain
PS You must post pics.
Posted by: Lain | April 05, 2007 at 10:03 PM