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4月8日復(fù)活節(jié)，美國總統(tǒng)奧巴馬將白宮化身為一片大操場，邀請(qǐng)三萬名兒童和他們的家人參加傳統(tǒng)的“復(fù)活節(jié)滾彩蛋”活動(dòng)。在和煦的春光里，奧巴馬攜夫人米歇爾和兩個(gè)女兒瑪麗亞、薩沙與參加活動(dòng)的孩子和家人歡聚在修葺整齊的花園里。這一傳統(tǒng)始于1878年，活動(dòng)持續(xù)一整天。

The White House South Lawn is often a place for pomp and protocol.

It is the starting point for state visits complete with red carpets and marching bands.

30,000 participants

But on Easter Monday, it belongs to the young.

Roughly 30,000 children and their parents from across the country were able to get tickets through the Internet for this year's White House Easter Egg Roll.

They got an official welcome from President Barack Obama.

"This is one of the greatest White House traditions because it reminds us that this is the people's house!" the president said.

Event dates back to 1800s

The tradition goes back to 1878. It began with races on the White House lawn, where children pushed painted Easter eggs with big spoons.

Those races continued under the new president. But there were other activities as well, designed to promote a healthy lifestyle. First Lady Michelle Obama said they all fit this year's theme: "Let's go play!"

"Oh, we have got basketball, a little soccer as well, and we want everybody to think about moving their bodies!" the first lady said.

There was also a place where children could just sit and listen and let their imaginations roam.

"Where the Wild Things Are. The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind and another ..." president Obama explained.

Obama girls have a new puppy

It was a spot near the trees that frame the South lawn, where books borrowed from a local library were read aloud. The president took a turn, [reading from the popular children's book "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak] as did the first lady, with daughters Malia and Sasha nearby.

Not present at the event was the latest addition to the first family, a puppy named Bo. The new first pet, a Portuguese water dog, is expected to make his public debut on Tuesday.