White House Christmas finery debuts
First lady pays homage to timeless traditions
WASHINGTON — Ballerinas leaping to the strains of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” helped launch Christmas at the White House, featuring a traditional decor that Melania Trump chose for her family’s first holiday season in the White House.
The first lady’s theme is Time-honored Traditions, a nod to 200 years of holiday celebrations at the executive mansion.
“The decorations are up!” Mrs. Trump tweeted Monday morning. “Whitehouse is ready to celebrate! Wishing you a Merry Christmas & joyous holiday season!”
Among the new touches this year: On the outside, wreaths topped with red bows adorn every White House window. Inside, glistening wintry branches line both sides of an East Wing hallway that leads guests to a tree decorated with the Trump family’s official Christmas ornament, a gold-toned bauble featuring the presidential coat of arms surrounded by a wreath of holly.
The first lady’s office previewed the decorations for journalists on Monday before welcoming students from a nearby military base in Maryland to see the decorations and try some holiday-themed arts and crafts.
“Are you the first lady?” asked one incredulous boy, who then moved in for a hug. Classmates quickly followed for hugs of their own.
The family Christmas card is framed and on display, along with cards from past presidents. “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,” says the card signed by President Donald Trump, the first lady and Barron, their 11-year-old son.
That’s a change from the Obama years, when the annual cards offered more generic sentiments of “Season’s Greetings” or wishes for happy holidays. Trump has vowed to put “Christmas” back at the center of the holidays.
Among the Christmas standards is an 18-by-6-foot balsam fir from Wisconsin in the traditional spot in the Blue Room, decorated with ornaments bearing the seals of every state and U.S. territory. A separate tree near the East Wing entrance is dedicated to families that lost loved ones in the military.
The 350-pound gingerbread house in the State Dining Room offers a view of the White House from the South Lawn, with wreaths on every window and a U.S. flag flying from its sugary rooftop.