White House Christmas decorations celebrate "We the People" (2024)

FAQs

What is the theme of this year's White House Christmas tree? ›

Holidays at the White House

Christmas trees in the the Cross Hall of the White House are seen during the media preview on Monday, Nov. 28, 2022. This year's theme, "We the People," is expected to be seen by about 50,000 visitors during the holiday season.

First Lady Lou Henry Hoover began the tradition of presidential wives decorating the White House tree with the first "official" White House Christmas tree in 1929. In 1961 First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy began the tradition of selecting a theme for the White House Christmas tree by decorating with a Nutcracker motif.

The tradition of a placing a decorated tree in the White House began in 1889 on Christmas morning during the Presidency of Benjamin Harrison.

The elegance theme arrives this year with completely new colours for the Christmas home: grey, black, brown and gold. This theme is truly unique for a glamorous, luxurious and sparkling Christmas.

President Theodore Roosevelt, an avowed conservationist forbid Christmas trees at the White House, but his children surprised the president by hiding a tree in a sewing room closet. December 1903.

John and Abigail Adams began the tradition with the first White House Christmas party in 1800. Jill Biden unveiled this year's White House Christmas decorations, themed "We the People."

“All the decorations become part of the White House collection, so they can be reused in other ways,” says McLaurin. According to him, the First Lady begins early each year to identify a theme with a team of decorators.

A white Christmas is a Christmas with the presence of snow, either on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day, depending on local tradition. This phenomenon is most common in the northern countries of the Northern Hemisphere.

How can I get invitation from the White House? ›

To submit invitations and speaking requests, please complete the Speaker Request Form. Email this form to whiaiane@ed.gov or submit via U.S. Postal Service or fax to the contact information below. To submit invitations and speaking requests, please complete the Speaker Request Form.

Every year since 1981, the White House Historical Association has had the privilege of designing the Official White House Christmas Ornament.

President Dwight Eisenhower poses with his family during the holiday season in front of the White House. The Eisenhowers held the record for the most Christmas trees in the White House — 26 — for years, a number which has been eclipsed many times in the last few decades.

Founded in 1961 by Jackie Kennedy, the WHHA launched its ornament program 20 years later with the blessing of another former first lady, Nancy Reagan.

Every year, it is customary for the First Lady to unveil the official White House holiday decorations, and yesterday Dr.

Christmas decoration trends 2022

The feelings of warmth, security and tranquility are reflected in the colour combination of bright crimson and dark fir green. Dark blue and black add a graceful depth to the theme, which is enhanced by gold and white accents. Traditional Christmas motifs round out the festive mood.

According to the Feng Shui art, during the holidays, especially Christmas, it is recommended to use the lucky colors of the year 2022, such as green, red, or yellow, to attract positive energies and wealth into the house.

Sarna said rabbis across the spectrum viewed the Christmas tree as a symbol from which Jews should stand apart, while many Christian faith leaders opposed the idea of a secular Christmas and urged Jews not to put trees in their home, fearing that “Christ” would be taken out of Christmas, Sarna said.

In 1870, Christmas became an official Federal holiday when President Ulysses S. Grant made it so in an attempt to unite north and south.

Which president started the National Christmas? ›

President Dwight Eisenhower approved the plan on November 4, 1953, and the first pageant — entitled Christmas Pageant of Peace — was held on the Ellipse December 17, 1954.

In 1912, President William Taft and his wife were away in Panama on Christmas Day. So their children set up a big Christmas tree in the Blue Room to surprise their young cousins at a party on Christmas. The main White House tree has been in the Blue Room almost every year since.

Not only was this the first White House “community” Christmas tree, but it was the first to be decorated with electric lights—a strand of 2,500 red, white and green bulbs. The balsam fir came from Coolidge's home state of Vermont and stood 48 feet tall.

The tradition that it is bad luck to keep decorations up after Twelfth Night and the Epiphany is a modern invention, although it may derive from the medieval notion that decorations left up after Candlemas eve would become possessed by goblins!

Her Majesty doesn't take the Christmas decorations down until February 6. There is a sad reason behind her unusual tradition. The Queen reportedly keeps them up for longer to honour the anniversary of her father's death.

The Christmas spirit in New York starts after Thanksgiving and the Black Friday weekend. The decorations last until the beginning of January, usually around 5th or 6th January.

Christmas is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God. The name 'Christmas' comes from the Mass of Christ (or Jesus). A Mass service (which is sometimes called Communion or Eucharist) is where Christians remember that Jesus died and then came back to life.

Please make your request after the baby is born. Birthday greetings are available for civilians celebrating their 100th birthday. Weddings must occur before January 19, 2017 for a greeting to be sent from the President and Mrs.

The White House will send greeting cards signed by the President of the United States to commemorate special events, accomplishments or milestones free of charge to U.S. citizens. To request a greeting card from the President, please contact the New Haven or Washington, DC offices.

White House reveals Christmas decorations with 'We the People' theme The White House says more than 150 volunteers decorated the building for a week to put together this year's holiday decorations. First lady Jill Biden selected a theme of "We the People."

How many signatures do you need to respond to the White House? ›

The White House Reviews and Responds: If a petition reaches a certain threshold (initially 5,000 signatures within 30 days), it will be reviewed by policy officials in the Administration and an official response will be issued.

Did you know that you can send a wedding invitation to the President of the United States, and receive something in return from him? Well, you can. Simply mail one of your wedding invitations to the President, and you will receive a pre-printed card with the signatures of the President and First Lady.

Well, if the White House were for sale, prospective buyers should be prepared to pony up close to $300 million.

After the repair of the White House from fire damage, Washington's portrait returned to the executive mansion. It is the only item currently on display that was present when the White House opened in 1800. After gaining his freedom, Jennings went on to publish his White House memoirs in 1865.

The White House Historical Association's Official 2022 White House Christmas Ornament represents the cherished White House tradition of displaying a gingerbread house each holiday in the State Dining Room.

Years without a tree

It is verifiable that there was no Christmas tree in the White House in 1902, 1904, 1907, and 1922. The lack of a tree in 1902 was due to the fact that President Theodore Roosevelt had not ordered one by December 23. Additionally, other presidents never displayed a tree in the White House.

President Theodore Roosevelt had the most pets owned as a president at 48. He owned a few strange pets, including a black bear, a badger, a hyena, and even a three-legged rooster.

Quentin Roosevelt mounted on Algonquin, his pony, who is being held by a White House police officer. This photo was taken in 1902. Our 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt, began his Presidency in 1901, along with six children and more animals than the White House had ever seen.

Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce.

Which first lady was the first to have a Christmas tree in the White House? ›

First Lady Mamie Eisenhower was the first to place a Christmas tree in the Blue Room of the White House consistently. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy began the tradition of selecting a theme for the official White House Christmas tree in the Blue Room in 1961.

Ornaments today are associated with Christmas but the tradition of decorating evergreen trees started in 16th century Germany.

Prior to the Ford Administration it was common for the President and First Lady to have separate bedrooms. Until then, this room was used mostly as the First Lady's bedroom; however, it was the sleeping quarters for President Lincoln.

In 1833, President Andrew Jackson had installed iron pipes in the Ground Floor Corridor and a bathing room in the East Wing.

Rutherford and Lucy Hayes during his presidency. Lucy Webb Hayes, wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes, made one of the most dramatic policy changes in the history of White House entertaining — she banned all alcoholic beverages from the building.

"That became a symbol of Christ — being triangular in shape it represents the trinity — and from there came the idea that the tree should be a symbol of Christ and new life," Dr Wilson said. "That's one of the main origins of the Christmas tree and bringing it into the house."

This year's tree is an 18.5-foot Concolor Fir, presented by the Shealer Family of Evergreen Acres Christmas Tree Farm in Auburn, Pennsylvania. Paul and Pam Shealer's farm was selected as the 2022 Grand Champion Grower in the National Christmas Tree Association's annual contest.

What does a white Christmas tree mean? The dark green tones of traditional Christmas trees are associated with the natural world, while white symbolizes purity and peace.

FOX's All-American Christmas tree, which once again features a patriotic theme of red, white and blue decorations, is 50 feet tall and decorated with 12,000 ornaments and 340,000 lights. "It's back, and it's better than ever," Gutfeld said.

Christmas comes at a cold, dark time in much of the world, so decorating with lights that brighten things up makes sense even if you don't think about what they mean. For Christians, the lights symbolize Jesus' status as the Light of the World, and the way he came to save people from darkness.

What does a Christmas tree have to do with Jesus's birth? ›

Although the Christmas tree is full of symbolic meaning for the Christian tradition, there is no immediate connection between Jesus and this particular practice. In fact, the evergreen has a rich history of religious significance among pagan cultures, which is why some Christians have rejected the tradition outright.

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."

The White House will send greeting cards signed by the President of the United States to commemorate special events, accomplishments or milestones free of charge to U.S. citizens. To request a greeting card from the President, please contact the New Haven or Washington, DC offices.

The first known Christmas tree in the White House was placed upstairs in the Second Floor Oval Room (then used as a family parlor and library) in 1889 (during the Benjamin Harrison administration). It was decorated with candles for the Harrison grandchildren.

The Pathway of Peace and the National Christmas Tree are free to visit and open to the public December 2through January 1, 2023. The National Christmas Tree and the 58 smaller trees that surround the tree turn on around sunset each evening and turn off promptly at 10 pm Sunday-Thursday and 11 pm on Friday and Saturday.

Each of those traditional Christmas symbols—evergreens, candy canes, wreaths, stockings— has a fascinating history that explains how it worked its way into the hearts of millions of people.

Christmas trees and menorahs are considered “holiday symbols,” meaning secular. On the other hand, Nativity scenes and the Ten Commandments denote religious symbolism.

Christmas is a celebration, a time for giving and not simply a day we exchange gifts. The spirit of Christmas is in the 'togetherness', it's in the thought to which you put into thinking about others, it's a selfless time, where we forgive, take stock of what's important and become 'better' versions of ourselves.

What happens to the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree after the holidays? Rockefeller Center usually selects a Norway Spruce as its holiday showstopper. Once the trees come down, the trunks are milled into two-by-four and two-by six beams that Tishman Speyer donates to Habitat.

Getting a live Christmas tree with the root ball attached is by far the most eco-friendly Christmas tree. If you can't get a tree with an attached root ball, getting a live Christmas tree is more eco-friendly than getting an artificial Christmas tree.

What happened to the All American Christmas tree in New York? ›

Dramatic footage posted to social media shows the 50-foot tree engulfed in flames before being extinguished by first responders. According to New York ABC affiliate WABC, police have identified Craig Tamanaha, 49, as the suspect, and have charged him on eight counts including arson and disorderly conduct.