Learn about all the meaningful touches in the 2024 White House holiday decorations
We Got a Sneak Peek at the White House Holiday Decorations—Here Are All the Details
Published on Dec. 02, 2024
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holidays have arrived—and with them, the White House Christmas decorations. Since President Benjamin Harrison put up the very first White House Christmas tree in 1889, this annual tradition has evolved into a showcase of American craftsmanship, creativity and community.
I was thrilled to be invited to a special preview to tour the residence and view the rooms and hallways that are adorned with stunning wreaths, twinkling lights, dozens of trees and thousands of Christmas ornaments, all meticulously planned to reflect the spirit of the season. Read on to find out the theme President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden selected for their final year in America’s most iconic residence.
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What is the theme of this year’s White House holiday decorations?
The 2024 White House Christmas decorations center on the theme “A Season of Peace and Light,” inspired by the values of faith, family, service, kindness and community that define the holiday spirit. In their final holiday season at the White House, the president and first lady designed this year’s display to reflect their hope for a nation blessed with unity and goodwill. Each room highlights elements that celebrate connection and tranquility, inviting visitors to feel at home in the People’s House and embrace the warmth and light of the season.
In the commemorative 2024 White House Holiday Guidebook, the Bidens write, “As we celebrate our final holiday season here in the White House, we are guided by the values we hold sacred: faith, family, service to our country, kindness towards our neighbors and the power of community and connection.”
How is the theme carried out?
This year’s White House Christmas decorations are an explosion of traditional holiday joy. When visitors enter the White House through the East Colonnade, they’re met with large brass-colored bells dangling from the ceiling, meant to evoke the peaceful sounds of the holiday season. The first Christmas tree on view is the Gold Star tree, constructed of six oversized and stacked stars, representing the six branches of the military and dedicated to the men and women who have lost their lives during military service. Nearby are four Christmas trees adorned with gold star ornaments, each etched with the name of a fallen service member.
On the ground floor, each of the five rooms has a distinct theme. Some highlights:
The Library
In the Library, there is a veritable forest of twinkling ceramic Christmas trees, both vintage and modern, which will undoubtedly trigger pleasant childhood memories for many.
The Vermeil Room
Named for the French word meaning “silver dipped in gold,” the Vermeil Room is home to portraits of some of America’s most notable first ladies. For the holidays this year, it is decorated with deep-red floral garlands and ribbon-wrapped trees.
Diplomatic Reception Room
Florals and fruit decorate the Diplomatic Reception Room to signify the importance of hospitality in diplomacy—an appropriate sentiment for the room that was home to FDR’s fireside chats. In 2024, it opened to public tours for the first time.
The China Room
As the residence of U.S. presidents, the White House is naturally legendary for its hospitality. Nowhere is this more evident than in the China Room, which houses the official state tableware of every American president. It is decorated with a large baker’s bench covered in wicker baskets and wreaths made from bread, which symbolizes community.
Once you head up the marble stairway from the ground floor, you’ll find yourself on the State Floor, where the decor is even more impressive. A few standouts:
The East Room
The ceiling of the East Room is wrapped in an ethereal white canopy, like a haute snowstorm, with two massive, maximalist trees on each side of the grand entrance door.
The Blue Room
Though there are 83 Christmas trees among this year’s White House Christmas decorations, the “official” White House Christmas tree is in the Blue Room. This year’s tree is an 18.5-foot Fraser fir that’s over-the-top in the most whimsical way—with thousands of colorful lights, large 3D candies, glittering technicolor baubles and flowing ribbons. And if that wasn’t enough, it’s also surrounded by animatronic carousel animals that bob up and down!
The State Dining Room
Of all the rooms I toured. I found the decorations in the State Dining Room to be the most impressive of all. First, there’s the annual Gingerbread White House: a to-scale replica of the residence made from gingerbread and sugar cookies, 65 pounds of pastillage, 45 pounds of chocolate, 50 pounds of royal icing and 10 pounds of gum paste. (Phew!) Then there are the paper-chain garlands strung around the room, which were made by naval families of the USS Delaware and the USS Gabrielle Giffords. And the pièce de rĂ©sistance: two towering Christmas trees adorned with self-portraits from school children all over the country.
Just outside is the White House menorah, which was handcrafted out of reclaimed wood from the White House itself!
Are there trends you can use in your own holiday decorations?
If there’s one word to describe this year’s White House Christmas decorations, it’s maximalism. The decorations are just like joy—too much is not enough! And the numbers are impressive: This year’s display includes more than 9,810 feet of ribbon, 28,125 ornaments, 2,200 paper doves and 165,075 holiday lights!
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Source:
- Whitehouse.gov: “2024 Holidays at the White House”
