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Past and present presidents have shown impressive Christmas trees at the White House.
The White House Historical Association credits former President Benjamin Harrison as the first to display a Christmas tree in the White House, having placed one in the Oval Office on the Second Floor in 1889.
The first known Christmas tree to be displayed in the White House was decorated with candles for Harrison’s grandchildren, according to the White House Historical Association.
Former President Theodore Roosevelt was president before Christmas trees became a staple of White House holiday parties. (Actuality Press Agency/Getty Images)
It is believed that when Theodore Roosevelt took office in 1901, the Christmas tree tradition was absent throughout his presidency. The answers to whether the Christmas tree was “banned” during this time, and why, are not explicitly clear.
According to History.com, Roosevelt “banned the Christmas tree from the White House,” with “environmental reasons” possibly to blame.
The National Christmas Tree Association echoed a similar idea, noting on its website that in 1901, Roosevelt tried to stop the practice of having Christmas trees in homes out of concern about the destruction of forests.
According to the Society of Forest History, the Christmas tree tradition in the White House it wasn’t established until the 1920s, with presidents before Roosevelt making the decision to have a tree and others choosing not to.
Today, the White House has many Christmas trees, including one that is lit in an annual ceremony. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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In the early days of the Christmas tree, it was mainly those families with young children who chose to display and decorate one in their home, according to the source.
The White House Historical Association described Roosevelt’s alleged ban on Christmas trees in the White House as a “myth,” with little evidence to support the claim beyond the simple fact that the family chose not to put up a tree
The Roosevelts celebrated Christmas with many popular traditions such as gift exchanges, attend the church service and enjoying a nice family meal, but chose not to put up a tree, according to the source.
Although, in 1902, young Archibald “Archie” Roosevelt, the president’s son, sneaked a miniature tree into a White House closet that he decorated and proudly displayed in his family
Former President Theodore Roosevelt’s son, Archibald Roosevelt, introduced a small decorated tree to the White House during his father’s presidency. (Stock Montage/Getty Images)
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After that, according to the White House Association, the president allowed the tradition to continue.
Many researchers have explained the reason why Roosevelt did not have a large tree on display during his presidency as being related to his conservationism, but according to the White House Association, it was because the tradition of the Christmas tree she was simply one who did not practice family.
It was several years later, in 1912, that the sons of former President William H. Taft displayed the first Christmas tree in the Blue Room, according to the source, as a means of surprising their parents when they come back from being away
It was during the presidency of former President Dwight Eisenhower that the Christmas tree found a home in the Blue Room consistently by First Lady Mamie Eisenhower. This was continued by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, according to the White House Association.
Each year, the National Christmas Tree Association provides a tree to be displayed at the White House. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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Kennedy was also responsible for the still-today tradition of decorating the Blue Room tree with a theme, which began in 1961.
Kennedy’s chosen Christmas tree opening theme was the ballet “Nutcracker Suite”. The 2024 White House theme chosen by first lady Jill Biden it was a “Season of Peace and Light,” according to WhiteHouse.gov.
Another modern tradition that has stood the test of time is the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, which was started in 1923 by former President Calvin Coolidge.
The tree lit in 1923 was a 48-foot balsam fir, according to the National Christmas Tree Lighting website.
Since 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association has provided a Christmas tree to be displayed in the Blue Room of the White House.
The 2024 White House tree came from the family-owned and operated Cartner Christmas Tree Farm in Newland, North Carolina.
