New York City has the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and Washington, DC has the White House Christmas tree. The White House every year gets a huge tree and they have their own tree lightening ceremony. The tradition began at the White House in 1889 when President Harrison was in office. The tree was placed then in the Oval office, the time was 1889 and the tree was decorated with candles, they did not have any other decorations.
The tradition of stockings on the mantel were followed. The President was a generous man; he gave his employees turkeys and gloves. In 1961, First Lady Jackie Kennedy began the tradition of decorating the White House tee with a theme; her theme was the Nutcracker Suite. Her decorations were of the toys that were displayed in the musical.
First Lady Hillary Clinton when she was in the White House she had liked the theme of a Winter Wonderland in 1998. The tree used fabric ornaments made into snowmen, little mittens, gloves and wooden painted ornaments.
Fast-forward to today, First Lady Laura Bush usually keeps her themes of American artists. One year she used small replicas of former presidents homes. The White House has a photographer come in every Christmas and take the official White House Christmas tree photo. The White House Tree is a symbol of Christmas by the highest branch of our government. Every one can get into the Christmas holiday.
It brings a little bit of Christmas to a time when the world is unsettled and there are so many things wrong in the country, the White House Christmas Tree brings hope and prosperity to the holidays.
