Holidays 2012
- Holidays 2012
- Holidays 2011
“This year’s theme is ‘Joy to All.’ It celebrates the many joys of the holiday seasons: the joy of giving and service to others; the joy of sharing our blessings with one another; and, of course, the joy of welcoming our friends and families as guests into our homes over these next several weeks.”
Joy To All
This year's decorations also pay tribute to our Armed Forces and their families. The walls of the East Landing are adorned with wreaths crafted with red, white, and blue yarn, and a Christmas tree decorated with festive, patriotic ornaments completes the space. The official White House Christmas tree, which stands tall in the center of the Blue Room, honors the courageous service of the troops, veterans, and military families who serveour country with pride. The 18-foot-6- inch Fraser Fir from Jefferson, North Carolina is trimmed with ornaments decorated by military children living on U.S. Military Bases all over the world, and these one-of-a-kind ornaments honor their parents’ commitment to service.
Bo Ho Ho
Bo makes a final inspection of the 2012 White House Christmas decorations before we open the doors to an expected 90,000 visitors who will be coming to the People’s House this holiday season.
See Highlights of the 2012 White House Holiday DĆ©cor
Tributes to Our Heroes
The very first tree visitors see as they enter the White House this holiday season honors our men and women in uniform for the extraordinary sacrifices they and their families have made. The tree in the East Landing is decorated with special Gold Star ornaments bearing the names of some of America’s greatest heroes – those who gave their lives for our country. And any Gold Star family who visits the White House is invited to decorate their own ornament to honor their loved one.
All visitors will have the opportunity to fill out Operation Honor Cards, pledging to serve their community in honor of ourmilitary families, service members, and veterans.
And in the Blue Room, a very special “Joining Forces” tree is covered with hand-decorated ornaments made by military children living on U.S. bases around the world as a way to honor their parents’ commitment to serve.
Download the Holiday Tour Book and Bo Bookmark
The 2012 White House Holiday Tour Book is made even more special by a series of illustrations that were created by the students from Washington D.C.'s Duke Ellington School for the Arts. The 16 page booklet also features background on the decorations in each of the rooms, plus a letter from President and Mrs. Obama.
One of the first sights to greet visitors to the White House this holiday season is a giant representation of Bo Obama made from 18,000 black pompoms. We've prepared a special activity for all of the young people who visit : They’ll receive a bookmark with a checklist that instructs them to find the Bo ornament in eight rooms of the White House. Take a look for yourself!
Recreate White House Traditions at Your House
Photos: First Lady Tribute Ornaments
The custom of selecting an official holiday theme began in the 1960s, when First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy created a Nutcracker-themed Christmas for her daughter, Caroline. This year we honor that tradition and pay tribute to past White House holidays with four trees in the Grand Foyer. Each tree is trimmed with a collection of iconic ornaments that best represent the holiday legacies of former First Ladies dating back more than 50 years to Mrs. Kennedy. In total, there are 54 trees throughout the White House that have been decorated to reflect this year's holiday theme.
Photos: Holidays at the White House Through the Years
Obama
G. W. Bush
Clinton
Bush
Reagan
Carter
Ford
Nixon
Johnson
Kennedy
The Obama Holidays
With themes like, "Joy to All", "Shine, Give, Share" and "Simple Gifts", the holiday customs celebrated by the Obama family in the White House have centered around reflecting on our many blessings as Americans, rejoicing in the pleasure of spending time with family and friends, and renewing commitments to one another and to the causes that we believe in. One of the First Lady's most cherished traditions are the trees that honor the service of our armed forces, which have pride of place in the East Landing and the Blue Room each year. And visitors during the holiday season have been enchanted by the representations of the First Dog, Bo Obama, who has been recreated using pipe cleaners, trash bags, buttons, pompoms and even chocolate.
The Obama Holidays
With themes like, "Joy to All", "Shine, Give, Share" and "Simple Gifts", the holiday customs celebrated by the Obama family in the White House have centered around reflecting on our many blessings as Americans, rejoicing in the pleasure of spending time with family and friends, and renewing commitments to one another and to the causes that we believe in. One of the First Lady's most cherished traditions are the trees that honor the service of our armed forces, which have pride of place in the East Landing and the Blue Room each year. And visitors during the holiday season have been enchanted by the representations of the First Dog, Bo Obama, who has been recreated using pipe cleaners, trash bags, buttons, pompoms and even chocolate.
The George W. Bush Holidays
In 2001, “Home for the Holidays” was chosen as the Christmas theme with the twins in mind, Mrs. Bush was thinking ahead when the girls would be home from school. Trees were decorated with snowflakes, icicles and gold pinecones. In 2002, “All Creatures Great and Small” was the theme and red and gold dominated the color scheme. “Season of Stories” was the theme for 2003, a holiday wish to all Americans for “happy reading adventures and joyful holidays to all”. This theme furthered Mrs. Bush’s personal cause of literacy and also paid homage to her mother-in-law, plus it was fun to incorporate Barbara Bush’s archived ornaments. In 2004, “Season of Merriment and Melody” was the theme and icicle trees and musical vignettes prevailed. “All things Bright and Beautiful” was the theme in 2005, highlighting the beauty and goodness of nature in a year when its powerful forces caused heartbreaking destruction. Mrs. Bush wanted to remind Americans that nature was also a blessing. “Deck the Halls and Welcome All” was the theme in 2006, the Blue Room tree was decorated simply with elegant beads and iridescent glass ornaments. “Holidays in the National Parks” was the theme in 2007, highlighting the national park historic sites and monuments. In 2008, the “Red, White and Blue Christmas” theme washed the house in patriotic hues along with flags and oversized nutcrackers. (Photos courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum)
The Clinton Holidays
“Angels and the Year of the American Craft” was the theme for 1993. Angels were made from artists using different mediums such as wood, metal, fiberglass, clay and needlepoint. In 1994, “Twelve Days of Christmas” was the theme, Ralph Lauren lent a hand and his signature red & green tartan ribbon trimmed the greens. 1995 featured the theme “A Visit from Saint Nicholas”, inspired by the “Twas the Night before Christmas” poem. Mrs. Clinton sought help from architectural organizations and needlepoint guilds to create ornaments of miniature homes and stockings. “Nutcracker” was the theme for 1996, a sentimental personal theme given Chelsea was a ballerina. That year ballet companies, woodworking artists and needle-pointers were all asked to help and created pieces to interpret the Nutcracker. The theme for 1997 was “Santa’s Workshop”, famous clothing designers made santa suits for the Blue Room tree. In 1998, “Winter Wonderland” was the theme and Robert Isabel added a contemporary twist as a contributing designer. A silver, gold and crystal winter wonderland was created. “Holiday Treasures at the White House” was the theme in 1999. “Holiday Reflections” was the theme in 2000, a retrospective look at past holidays, faux fruit and red bows decorated the Grand Foyer, and the best and brightest of all ornaments were featured on the Blue Room tree.
The George H. W. Bush Holidays
A “ Storybook Christmas” showcased a tree featuring popular characters from children’s books, championing Mrs. Bush’s favorite cause of literacy with tiny books as ornaments, and accented with gold and red ribbon. In 1990, the theme was “Nutcracker”, as actual ballet slippers and porcelain dancers decorated the house. “Needlepoint Christmas” was the theme in 1991, with needlepoint creations featured on the tree. “Gift Givers” was the theme for 1992. The idea of gift givers had taken on many forms over the years in the form of Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, Snow Maid to name a few, and Mrs. Bush chose to represent eighty-eight different kinds on her tree. (Photos courtesy of the George Bush Library and Museum)
The Reagan Holidays
The theme for 1981 was “Old Fashion Christmas with the Museum of Folk Art “; the museum lent the White House national treasures such as Victorian dollhouses and miniature period furniture. “Old Fashion Christmas with Foil Paper Cones and Snowflakes” was the theme for 1982, and included glitzy shiny ornaments and plenty of angels. “Old Fashion Christmas with Antique Toys” was the theme for 1983, an antique toy circus was placed under the tree, and gold foil paper chains were used throughout the House. “Enchanting Creatures” was the theme for 1984, volunteers from the Brandywine River Museum in Pennsylvania crafted Christmas “critters” that were woodland creatures made from natural materials like pinecones. In 1985 “Old Fashion Christmas with Teddy Bears” was the theme, Mrs. Reagan used regular size bears to decorate the House. “Mother Goose” was the theme for 1986. Stuffed goose ornaments illustrating the nursery rhyme covered the Blue Room tree. “Toyland Musical Tree” was the theme for 1987 and focused in on Mrs. Reagan’s sweetest holiday memories revolving around classic Christmas carols. For their last Christmas in the White House, the theme was a variation of 1985’s “Old-Fashion Tree with Teddy Bears”. The bears were back, placed alongside wooden candles and yarn dolls. Gold bows were prevalent and used as accents throughout the House. (Photos courtesy of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library)
The Carter Holidays
In 1977, Mrs. Carter decided the holiday would be a simple Georgian Christmas and set the theme as “Classic American Christmas”. Ornaments were crafted using all natural materials such as wood, pinecones, and even peanuts. Charming paper-cone ornaments were filled with dried flowers and trinkets. The following year, the theme “Antique Toys” was chosen with Amy Carter clearly in mind. The Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum loaned the White House over twenty-five hundred antique toys. In 1979, the theme was “American Folk Art of the Colonial Period” and the students of the Corcoran School of Art created ornaments such as white needlework snowflakes, along with ceramic and wood decorative pieces. The theme for 1980 was “Old Fashion Victorian Christmas” and the tree was decorated in shades of muted mauves and pinks with large porcelain dolls and a variety of faux flowers. (Photos courtesy of the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum)
The Ford Holidays
The Ford’s family traditions were based on creativity, love and above all - thriftiness. Mrs. Ford had her family’s approach in mind when she chose “Patchwork Christmas” as the theme for 1974. Pastel blue calico fabric bows, tiny mirrors, wood animals, and calico quilted animal ornaments decorated the tree. In 1975, a “Children’s Christmas” was sponsored by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and the Abby Aldrich Folk Art Museum. The trees and house were decorated with antique toys and American crafts made from simple materials such as yarn and straw. For Christmas 1976, the year of the nation’s Bicentennial, Mrs. Ford chose “America is Love” for the theme. Big red velvet bows, handmade flowers made from a variety of materials and Bicentennial dolls decorated the House. (Photos courtesy of the Gerald R. Ford Library)
The Nixon Holidays
In 1969 Mrs. Nixon chose “State Flower Balls” as her first theme; volunteers created velvet and satin ornaments embellished with craft flowers. The original set of “State Flower Balls” once archived, has been sourced and select pieces will be incorporated into the trees in 2012. In 1970, the decorations were a continuation of 1969’s theme along with the addition of gold foil fans. The theme in 1971 was “Gold Foil Angels” and Mrs. Nixon took the décor to the next level adding a bit of glitz and gold. “Nature’s Bounty” was the theme for 1972, inspired by the lush painting of fruit and flowers by German American artist, Severin Roesen. The tree was covered in faux fruit, gold stars, and pastel satin balls along with the state flower balls from 1969. The Christmas of 1973 was the year of “Gold Tree Honoring James Monroe” decorated with dainty gold beading; gold balls hung again with the state flower balls. (Photos Courtesy of the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum)
The Johnson Holidays
Lady Bird Johnson celebrated Christmas both in 1964 and 1965 with the theme of “Early Americana”. Highlighting a bountiful harvest, trees were decorated with a multitude of fruit that included apples, lemon and plums and cranberry chains. Toy soldiers combined with gingerbread ornaments in all shapes, completed the trees. In 1967 and 1968, Lady Bird Johnson expanded on her love of the “Early Americana” theme with felt flowers in all colors and red satin ornaments left over from her daughter’s wedding. (Photos courtesy of the LBJ Presidential Library)
The Kennedy Holidays
Jacqueline Kennedy, while always chic and stylish, also embodied a cozy, classic and homespun tone when it came to the Holidays. Her first theme, “The Nutcracker” portrayed her love for ballet, classical music and culture. Plentiful use of miniature ornaments, especially wrapped mini presents and faux candlelight clips, were a common theme in her Christmas trees. In 1961, a Victorian Style decorated Christmas Tree was the centerpiece for the holiday and filled with a variety of angels, birds, candy canes, and white snowflakes. The theme in 1962 was “The Children’s Tree” in Mrs. Kennedy’s pursuit of capturing the wonder of Christmas through the eyes of children. This tree was placed in the Grand Foyer and covered in stuffed animals, tiny twig stars, more miniature presents and reindeer. (Photos courtesy of White House Photographs, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston)
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