Past and current presidents have shown amazing performance Christmas trees in the White House.
Former President Benjamin Harrison is credited by the White House Historical Association as being the first to display a Christmas tree in the White House, having placed one in the second floor Oval Room in 1889.
The first known Christmas tree to be displayed at the White House was decorated with candles for Harrison's grandchildren, according to the White House Historical Association.
Former President Theodore Roosevelt was president before Christmas trees became a staple of the White House's holiday festivities. (Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
It is believed that when Theodore Roosevelt took office In 1901, the Christmas tree tradition was absent throughout his presidency. The answers to whether and why the Christmas tree is “banned” during this time are not clearly evident.
According to History.com, Roosevelt “banned the Christmas tree from the White House,” with “environmental reasons” likely to be blamed.
The National Christmas Tree Association echoed a similar idea, noting on its website that in 1901, Roosevelt tried to stop the practice of having Christmas trees in homes due to concern about destroying forests.
According to the Forest History Society, Christmas tree tradition A tree was not established at the White House until the 1920s, with presidents before Roosevelt making the decision to have a tree and others choosing not to.
Today, the White House has several Christmas trees, including one that is lit at an annual ceremony. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
During the early days of the Christmas tree, it was families with young children who chose to display and decorate the Christmas tree in their homes, according to the source.
The White House Historical Association has described Roosevelt's alleged ban on White House Christmas trees as a “myth,” with little evidence to support this claim other than the simple fact that the family chose not to put up a tree.
The Roosevelts celebrated Christmas with many popular traditions, such as exchanging gifts, Attend a church service They enjoyed a delicious meal as a family, but chose not to put up a tree, according to the source.
However, in 1902, Archibald “Archie” Roosevelt, the president's son, placed a miniature tree in a closet in the White House, decorated it, and proudly presented it to his family.
Archibald Roosevelt, son of former President Theodore Roosevelt, brought a small decorated tree into the White House during his father's presidency. (Stock Montage/Getty Images)
The White House selects a North Carolina family Christmas tree farm to supply its 2024 tree
And then, according to the White House Association, the president allowed the tradition to continue.
Many researchers have presented the reason why Roosevelt did not display a large tree during his presidency as related to his conservation efforts, but according to the White House Association, it was because the Christmas tree tradition was simply one the family did not practice.
Several years later, in 1912, the first Christmas tree was displayed in the Blue Room by the children of former President William Taft, according to the source, as a way to surprise their parents upon their return from life. far.
It was during former President Dwight Eisenhower's presidency when the Christmas tree found a home in the always Blue Room of First Lady Mamie Eisenhower. This was continued by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, according to the White House Association.
Each year, the National Christmas Tree Association provides a tree for display at the White House. (Andrew Harnick/Getty Images)
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Kennedy was also responsible for the tradition that continues today of decorating the Blue Room tree with a theme, which she started in 1961.
The initial Christmas tree theme chosen by Kennedy was the ballet “Nutcracker Suite.” The 2024 White House theme was chosen by First Lady Jill Biden It was a “season of peace and light,” according to WhiteHouse.gov.
Another modern tradition that has stood the test of time is the annual National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, which was started in 1923 by former President Calvin Coolidge.
The tree lit in 1923 was a 48-foot balsam fir, according to the National Christmas Tree Lighting website.
Beginning in 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association provided a Christmas tree to be displayed in the Blue Room of the White House.
the 2024 white house tree It came from Cartner's family owned and operated Christmas tree farm in Newland, North Carolina.
