Civic Register
| 11.26.18
President Trump and First Lady Melania Participate in the National Christmas Tree Lighting
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The National Christmas Tree
- D.C.’s oldest tradition takes place Wednesday night: arguing about immigrants. Also: it’s the 96th annual National Christmas Tree lighting.
- President Calvin Coolidge began the tradition on Christmas Eve, 1923, when he lit a tree in front of 3,000 spectators on the Ellipse, the park located just south of the White House fence. Every president since then has carried on the tradition of causing massive traffic jams in Washington.
- This year, President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will continue that tradition, joined by Antonio Sabàto Jr, singing nuns, country singer Abby Anderson, Irish tenor Anthony Kearns, and Christian artist Matthew West. The ceremony is a joint effort between the National Park Service and National Park Foundation.
Christmas at the White House 2018
- Each December, the White House goes full Thomas Kinkade with Christmas trees, wreaths, garland, lights, and gingerbread houses.
- FLOTUS Melania Trump designed this year’s theme, "American Treasures,” to honor “the unique heritage of America.”
- The East Room is dedicated to “the diversity and ingenuity of American architecture and design” and showcases custom mantelpieces of the skylines of New York City, St. Louis, Chicago, and San Francisco. Four 14-foot Noble fir trees are decorated with 72 handmade paper ornaments representing six regions across America. Also on display in the East Room is the White House Crèche, an 18th century terra cotta and wood nativity scene.
- The Green Room is meant to symbolize the country's "bounty and harvest" through an array of fruit, vegetable, and grain decorations. (Since China isn't buying them anymore.)
- The White House's Red Room is designed with kids in mind, and features “Be Best” ornaments (the first lady's signature initiative) and soccer ball ornaments (a nod to Barron Trump’s love of the sport).
- “This is a joyous time of year when we decorate the White House for the Christmas Season,” First Lady Melania Trump said in a statement.
“Our theme honors the heart and spirit of the American people. Thank you to the many volunteers and staff who worked hard to decorate the halls of the People’s House in Christmas cheer. On behalf of my family, we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
- If you can’t make it to the White House for a visit, bring the administration into your home with the Official 2018 White House Christmas Ornament. (Proceeds go to the Pentagon’s ongoing efforts to combat the War On Christmas.)
Ghosts of Christmas Past
- The tradition of selecting a theme for the official White House Christmas tree was begun by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961; she decorated the tree with ornamental toys, birds, angels, and characters from the "Nutcracker Suite."
- In 1969, as the White House Historical Association explained, First Lady Patricia Nixon "arranged for disabled workers in Florida to make velvet and satin balls featuring each states official flower" for the American Flowers Tree.
- Some say the 80s was officially born in this 1983 White House photo:
- The mid-90s saw The Gingrich Who Stole Christmas when the Christmas Tree display was closed due to a federal budget showdown.
- George W. Bush’s two Scottish Terriers - Barney and Mrs. Beazley - were featured in a series of White House Christmas videos:
- In 2015, the Obamas took advantage of then-novel YouTube technology, releasing a 360 holiday tour of the White House:
—Josh Herman
(Photo Credit: Banner National Tree photo / Official White House House Photo)
(Photo Credit: Calvin Coolidge with family / Library of Congress)
(Photo Credit: JFK and Jackie Kennedy / John F. Kennedy Presidential Library)
(Photo Credit: 1995 Budget Showdown - AP Photo / Mark Wilson)
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