The tradition of a White House Christmas tree in Washington, D.C. was started by Benjamin Harrison in 1889. Theodore Roosevelt banned Christmas trees from the house because he believed that chopping down healthy evergreens for the holiday was at adds with his commitment to conservation. Of course, that didn’t stop the Roosevelt children from smuggling a small spruce into the attic and keeping it hidden until Christmas Day. Touched, the president gave in and let the family enjoy the tree.
Andrew Jackson, whose mother died when he was a small boy, knew the sadness of a Christmas season without toys, friends, and family. As president he celebrated the holiday by inviting orphans to a party at the White House, and even joined them for a snowball fight in the East Room complete with snowballs made of cotton.
President Dwight Eisenhower began the tradition of the annual White House Christmas card which was sent to 300,000 Americans. Official holiday greetings were sent to friends, government officials, diplomats and supporters from around the USA. Celebrated artists such as Thomas McKnight and Ray Ellis would depict different parts of the White House as they look during the season. There have been Winter views of the South and North Porticos warmed by Christmas lights and wreaths.
Jacqueline Kennedy began the tradition of decorating the official tree in the Blue Room around one central theme. In recent years the White House has been transformed into settings such as “Santa’s Workshop,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “The Nutcracker Suite.”
One year the tree featured Santa and Mrs. Claus ornaments. The figures were shown with fashionable Santa suits made by famous American designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren and Vera Wang. The tree is illuminated by 2,700 lights, covered with handmade ornaments and surrounded by a green velvet tree skirt made in 1993 by quilters from every state. Ornaments are created every year by volunteers from all over America.
The White House at Christmas hears the music of schoolchildren, visits by senior citizens, church choir members, pianists and string musicians. Invitations go to 2,500 who will be selected each year to perform at the White House during tours and parties. A U.S. Secret Service uniformed division officer plays Santa. The White House creche was redesigned in 1999 to resemble the style of a traditional Italian creche.
The White House pastry chef organizes the baking of all the irresistible sweets. Visitors may taste some of the 100,000 cookies and pastries or a slice of one of the 250 fruitcakes that have been stored in the walk-in refrigerators since July. (See, Virginia, many people, do enjoy fruitcake!) This baking uses approximately 500 pounds of sugar and 300 pounds of chocolate. Each Christmas a gingerbread house, elaborate, and completely edible, is fashioned. One year a fairyland castle was guarded by marzipan figures.
In early December volunteer “Elves” transform the White House into a magical wonderland. Most are professional florists and decorators from all around the country. They put up the ornaments, the 300 wreaths, string 720 lengths of garlands on the mantels, windows, and doorways, set up the poinsettias and plants as they prepare the White House for Christmas.
And so it is Christmas once again. Christmas Eve is a magical time when expectations filter through our dreams of what the morning will bring. The house is beautiful. The cookies are baked. The presents underneath the tree. Christmas cards sent earlier in the month. Now we rejoice together the miracle of his birth.
Merrie Christmas to all and to all a good night.