A Look Back at the White House Christmas Decorations Throughout History, From Jackie Kennedy to Jill Biden

Like many American traditions (the very stylish ones, at least) the White House Christmas decorations really began with Jackie Kennedy. Sure, the previous presidents and first ladies had always celebrated the holidays at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue—in 1834, Andrew Jackson had a party with an indoor “snowball” fight with large cotton balls, while Grover Cleveland put electric lights on his Christmas tree in 1894. But in December 1961, Kennedy decorated their fir with ornaments that played homage to Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. Since then, every First Lady from Patricia Nixon to Michelle Obama has decked the halls of America’s house with a grand theme in mind.

This morning, Jill Biden unveiled the White House Christmas decorations for 2024: “A Season of Peace and Light.” Brass bells are suspended from the East Colonnade ceiling, whereas the Diplomatic Reception room is adorned in a variety of fruits—a nod to how food is an integral part of soft diplomacy. (This theme is echoed again in the China Room, which is covered in loaves, rolls, and baguettes as a quite literal symbol of the act of “breaking bread.”) The East Room, meanwhile, is wrapped in a reflective canopy meant to evoke a peaceful snowfall. It’s also home to the Nativity Scene, which has forty figurines that date back to the 18th century. All in all, her decor includes 83 Christmas trees, 28,125 ornaments, 9,810 feet of ribbon, and 165,075 holiday lights. “It has been the honor of our lives to serve as your President and First Lady. Our hope is for the Nation to be blessed with the peace and light of the holiday season. We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,” she and President Joe Biden said in a statement.

Below, take a look at the White House Christmas decorations throughout history.