Easter hats (or "bonnets" as they were called back in the day) were all the rage among early American women. Having denied themselves luxuries during the 40 days of Lent, many bought a new bonnet to wear for the Easter day's celebrations. The bonnet-buying custom stems from a larger 16th century tradition of a wardrobe renewal in conjunction with the earth’s renewal.
Wearing hats on Easter has gone in and out of fashion, but one tradition has remained true: NYC's Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival, held each year on Easter Sunday. As you can imagine, hats range from demure to outrageous, and many costumed pets join the festivities.
