The White House Celebrates The Holiday Season with "Joy to All" Theme
“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.”
-First Lady Michelle Obama, November 28, 2012
 | |
| First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia accept the Christmas tree outside the White House. Photo (c) WhiteHouse.gov. |
The
official Christmas tree was delivered to the North Portico of the
White House in a horse-drawn carriage and presented to First Lady
Michelle Obama, accompanied by daughters Malia and Sasha and their dog Bo, on
November 23. The tree, which now stands tall in the center
of the Blue Room, honors the courageous service of the troops,
veterans, and military families who serve our 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.
Learn More About American
Holiday Traditions and White House History
Holiday Traditions and White House History
The
December holidays provide a fabulous opportunity to help young people
learn about their own history and heritage, as well as the history,
heritage, and traditions of others. Following are some resources you
can share with young people to engage their natural curiosity and
introduce them to holiday traditions at the White House:
Watch a video of the delivery of this year's Christmas tree, download the White House holiday tour book, print an official White House holiday book mark, and fill out Honor Cards for our nation's service men and women on the WhiteHouse.Gov holiday page.
Discover how the Christmas tree became a White House tradition and how farmers across America compete to grow the “Grand Champion” selected to adorn the White House each year in "Grand Champions of the White House" by guest writer Renee Critcher Lyons on OurWhiteHouse.org. Read on for an excerpt:
A
tree has not always graced the White House at Christmastime. In fact,
Franklin Pierce (1856), our 14th president, became the first to embrace
the 500-year old tradition of bringing a tree into the home to
celebrate the hope of Christmas morn. And, the practice did not become a
yearly event until the 1880’s. Only one president since has frowned
upon the use of an official White House Christmas tree, Teddy
Roosevelt. Our 26th president (1901-1909), at a time before Christmas
tree farms were prevalent, believed the harvesting of Christmas trees
might deplete our national forests, and thus banned the practice from
the White House.
Read about the history of the National Christmas Tree, which graces the Ellipse between the White House and the Washington Monument, in "Our National Christmas Tree" by Cheli Mennella on OurWhiteHouse.org. Here is an excerpt:
The
magnificent blue spruce towers above the Ellipse, the ground between
the White House and the Washington Monument. Throughout the year it is a
silent reminder of yuletide pleasures and joy. Then in December the
tree takes on new significance. Dressed in strands of colorful lights
and trimmed with ornaments, the tree, our National Christmas Tree,
becomes a beacon of beauty and brilliance.
Read Newbery-medal winning author Susan Cooper's contrasting memories of the White House--one at a time of sorrow and another at a time of Christmas splendor--in "Memory of the White House" on OurWhiteHouse.org.
Discover More About the White House and American History in Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out
For even more information and stories about White House holiday traditions, the presidents and first ladies, and American history, check out a copy of Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out from your local library and share the extensive fiction and nonfiction pieces and plethora of original art illustrations with the young people in your life. To learn more about White House holidays, you might choose to read how the American hostage crisis in 1979 affected the lighting of the national Christmas tree during President Carter’s term in office in “From Christmas in Plains: Memories” by Jimmy Carter.
For even more information and stories about White House holiday traditions, the presidents and first ladies, and American history, check out a copy of Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out from your local library and share the extensive fiction and nonfiction pieces and plethora of original art illustrations with the young people in your life. To learn more about White House holidays, you might choose to read how the American hostage crisis in 1979 affected the lighting of the national Christmas tree during President Carter’s term in office in “From Christmas in Plains: Memories” by Jimmy Carter.
