White House Christmas Decorations
Ninety-eight Christmas trees, more than 142,000 twinkling lights and nearly 34,000 ornaments deck the halls of the White House in ways that Jill Biden hopes will inspire visitors to embrace their inner child and experience the "magic, wonder and joy" of the season. It's her theme for the holiday décor.
"Each room on display is designed to capture the pure, unfiltered delight and imagination of our childhoods, to see this time of year through the wondrous, sparkling eyes of children," she will say in remarks prepared for a Monday afternoon reception to formally unveil the décor and thank hundreds of designers and decorators who volunteered to spend last week transforming the executive mansion.
Throughout the décor are numerous nods to the 200th anniversary of the publication in 1823 of the poem and book "'Twas the Night Before Christmas."
The Library of Congress provided samples of editions from the past 200 years that are on display along the ground floor corridor. The traditional gingerbread White House recreates the classic story by featuring a sugar cookie replica of the book along with Santa's sleigh flying above the grounds. Santa's sleigh and his reindeer are also suspended above the Grand Foyer.
White House Christmas Decorations
The White House has released a fact sheet detailing the festive decorations for this year's holiday season. The media was given a sneak peek of the trees, lights, and ornaments before the first lady's event.
As part of Joining Forces, the White House initiative to show appreciation for military families, National Guard families will be among the first members of the public to see the decorations. Children of these and other military families will also be treated to a special performance by the cast of the North American tour of the Disney musical "Frozen."
It is estimated that the White House will welcome approximately 100,000 visitors throughout the holiday season.
One of the highlights of the decorations is a Christmas tree adorned with wooden gold star ornaments engraved with the names of fallen service members.
The official White House Christmas tree, an 18.5-foot-tall Fraser fir, is displayed in the Blue Room. The chandelier had to be taken down to accommodate its height. This year, the tree celebrates cheerful scenes, landscapes, and neighborhoods from across the country.
The State Dining Room has been transformed into Santa's workshop, complete with elves' workbenches, stools, and ladders. Christmas trees, tools, and gifts-in-progress add to the festive atmosphere.
The dining room is also home to the traditional gingerbread White House. This year's creation is made using 40 sheets each of sugar cookie dough and gingerbread dough, 90 pounds of pastillage, 30 pounds of chocolate, and 50 pounds of royal icing.
The White House Celebrates the Holidays with Enchanting Displays and Festive Spirit
As the holiday season approaches, the White House is transformed into a magical wonderland, filled with enchanting displays and festive spirit.
The library honors the tradition of bedtime stories with golden moons and shimmering stars dangling overhead while the China Room becomes a sweet shop featuring flavors and scents of the season wafting from the holiday cakes, cookies, and gingerbread filling the space.
The official White House Menorah is on display in the Cross Hall, which runs between the State Dining Room and the East Room.
"In this season of reflection and goodwill, we hope you will embrace your inner child and delight in simply being present with those you love," President Biden and the first lady wrote in a welcome letter in the commemorative 2023 White House Holiday Guide. "It is a time for our senses to awaken — for each of us to smell the aroma of favorite family recipes, to hear the warmth of a dear friend's voice, to see the glow of lights and decorations, to taste the sweetness of candies and treats, and to feel the quiet stillness and strength of faith."
In her prepared remarks, the first lady will say she knows that magic, wonder, and joy can be hard to find, especially as the days grow shorter, the weather turns colder "and our hearts grow heavy in the face of a tumultuous world."
During these challenging times, when we are seeking hope and healing, it is crucial that we find those sources of inspiration and support, and that we come together," she affirms. "In these moments, I urge you to recall, even if only for a brief period, how you viewed the world as a child."
The White House announced that they utilized nearly 15,000 feet of ribbon, over 350 candles, and more than 22,000 bells for the decorations. Additionally, there are a remarkable 142,425 lights illuminating the trees, garlands, wreaths, and other festive displays.
The north and south exteriors of the White House are adorned with a total of 72 wreaths, each adorned with a red ribbon.
