A Look Back at White House Christmases Through the Years

01of 28The Kennedy Years — 1961-1963John F. Kennedy Library/SIPAPresident John F. Kennedyhangs a homemade stocking in front of the White House fireplace in 1962.

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The Kennedy Years — 1961-1963

John F. Kennedy Library/SIPA

President John F. Kennedyhangs a homemade stocking in front of the White House fireplace in 1962.

02of 28The Kennedy FamilyArchive Photos Stringer/GettyJaqueline, 33, and JFK, 45, gather with family in 1962. From left to right:Caroline, 5; Gustavo Paredes;John Jr., 2; Anthony Radziwill, 3; Prince Stanislas Radziwill, 48; Lee Radziwill, 29; Anna Christina Radziwill, 2.

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The Kennedy Family

Archive Photos Stringer/Getty

Jaqueline, 33, and JFK, 45, gather with family in 1962. From left to right:Caroline, 5; Gustavo Paredes;John Jr., 2; Anthony Radziwill, 3; Prince Stanislas Radziwill, 48; Lee Radziwill, 29; Anna Christina Radziwill, 2.

03of 28Caroline KennedyHenry Burroughs/APCaroline, 4, prances around the tree during the family’s first White House Christmas in 1961.

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Caroline Kennedy

Henry Burroughs/AP

Caroline, 4, prances around the tree during the family’s first White House Christmas in 1961.

04of 28A Kennedy Christmas TreeRobert Knudsen. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, BostonJacquelinestarted the tradition of decorating the White House Christmas tree according to a theme, choosing “Nutcracker Suite” in honor of the ballet for the family’s first year in office.

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A Kennedy Christmas Tree

Robert Knudsen. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston

Jacquelinestarted the tradition of decorating the White House Christmas tree according to a theme, choosing “Nutcracker Suite” in honor of the ballet for the family’s first year in office.

05of 28The Johnson Years — 1963-1969APPresident Lyndon B. Johnson, 59, and Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson, 55 — plus their dog, Yuki — admire the tree in the Yellow Oval Room in 1967.After the death of John F. Kennedy, the Johnsons opted for holiday décor that was comforting and nostalgic, but the First Lady added a touch of glitter to the tree that year with silver balls, silver stars and round mirrors.

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The Johnson Years — 1963-1969

AP

President Lyndon B. Johnson, 59, and Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson, 55 — plus their dog, Yuki — admire the tree in the Yellow Oval Room in 1967.

After the death of John F. Kennedy, the Johnsons opted for holiday décor that was comforting and nostalgic, but the First Lady added a touch of glitter to the tree that year with silver balls, silver stars and round mirrors.

06of 28The Nixon Years — 1969-1974Nixon Presidential Library and MuseumDuring a white Christmas at the White House in 1973, Pat Nixon, 61, andPresident Richard Nixon, 60, admire a stocky snowman on their lawn.

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The Nixon Years — 1969-1974

Nixon Presidential Library and Museum

During a white Christmas at the White House in 1973, Pat Nixon, 61, andPresident Richard Nixon, 60, admire a stocky snowman on their lawn.

07of 28The Nixon DogsRichard Nixon Presidential Library and MuseumThe First Lady instituted “Candlelight Tours” of the White House during the holidays for working-class families unable to visit during daytime hours, so they could see the grand trees like this one, in 1971.

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The Nixon Dogs

Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum

The First Lady instituted “Candlelight Tours” of the White House during the holidays for working-class families unable to visit during daytime hours, so they could see the grand trees like this one, in 1971.

08of 28The Ford Years — 1974-1977Courtesy Gerald R. FordBetty Ford, 56, poses with President Gerald Ford, 61, in front of the tree during their first Christmas at the White House in 1974.

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The Ford Years — 1974-1977

Courtesy Gerald R. Ford

Betty Ford, 56, poses with President Gerald Ford, 61, in front of the tree during their first Christmas at the White House in 1974.

09of 28A Homemade ChristmasCourtesy Gerald R. Ford LibraThe First Lady chose a patchwork theme that Christmas to emphasize frugality and simplicity during the recession, even suggesting Americans make all their ornaments to save money.

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A Homemade Christmas

Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Libra

The First Lady chose a patchwork theme that Christmas to emphasize frugality and simplicity during the recession, even suggesting Americans make all their ornaments to save money.

10of 28The Carter Years — 1977-1981Rosalynn Carter(here at age 53 with grandchildren Sarah Carter, almost 2, and Jason Carter, 5) chose a Victorian theme for the tree in 1980, adorning it with dolls, hats, fans, tapestries and laces. The same year she threw one of the White House’s largest Christmas parties, a huge event on the South Lawn featuring an entire ice-skating rink.

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The Carter Years — 1977-1981

Rosalynn Carter(here at age 53 with grandchildren Sarah Carter, almost 2, and Jason Carter, 5) chose a Victorian theme for the tree in 1980, adorning it with dolls, hats, fans, tapestries and laces. The same year she threw one of the White House’s largest Christmas parties, a huge event on the South Lawn featuring an entire ice-skating rink.

11of 28The Reagan Years — 1981-1989Bettmann/CORBISPresidentRonald Reagan,73, andNancy Reagan, 63, play with their new puppy Lucky, a Bouvier des Flandres, in front of the tree in 1984.

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The Reagan Years — 1981-1989

Bettmann/CORBIS

PresidentRonald Reagan,73, andNancy Reagan, 63, play with their new puppy Lucky, a Bouvier des Flandres, in front of the tree in 1984.

12of 28Nancy Reagan and Mr. TNational GeographicThe First Lady invited Mr. T to dress as Santa at the children’s party in 1983, and then famously sat on his lap and prentended to tell him what she wanted for Christmas.

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Nancy Reagan and Mr. T

National Geographic

The First Lady invited Mr. T to dress as Santa at the children’s party in 1983, and then famously sat on his lap and prentended to tell him what she wanted for Christmas.

13of 28The George H.W. Bush Years — 1989-1993Hulton Archive ContributorA champion of literacy,President George H.W. Bush, 67, reads to his grandchildren on Christmas Eve 1991.

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The George H.W. Bush Years — 1989-1993

Hulton Archive Contributor

A champion of literacy,President George H.W. Bush, 67, reads to his grandchildren on Christmas Eve 1991.

14of 28Barbara Bush and MillieHulton Archive ContributorFirst Lady Barbara Bush, 67, stands with the family’s springer spaniel Millie next to the tree in 1992. The theme that year was “Gift-Givers,” and White House florists created 88 gift-giving characters to decorate the branches.

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Barbara Bush and Millie

First Lady Barbara Bush, 67, stands with the family’s springer spaniel Millie next to the tree in 1992. The theme that year was “Gift-Givers,” and White House florists created 88 gift-giving characters to decorate the branches.

15of 28The Clinton Years — 1993-2001Mark Duncan/APPhotographed in the State Dining Room,President Bill Clinton, 47, andHillary Clinton, 46, stand in front of the tree for their holiday greeting card in 1993, the same year they organized the first official menorah lighting at the White House for Hanukkah.

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The Clinton Years — 1993-2001

Mark Duncan/AP

Photographed in the State Dining Room,President Bill Clinton, 47, andHillary Clinton, 46, stand in front of the tree for their holiday greeting card in 1993, the same year they organized the first official menorah lighting at the White House for Hanukkah.

16of 28Hillary ClintonHulton Archive ContributorFirst Lady Hillary Clinton holds up a pair of snowman ornaments for 1998’s Christmas theme, “A Winter Wonderland.”

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Hillary Clinton

First Lady Hillary Clinton holds up a pair of snowman ornaments for 1998’s Christmas theme, “A Winter Wonderland.”

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The George W. Bush Years — 2001-2009

Ron Edmonds/AP

In 2001, the first Christmas after the Sept. 11 attacks,Laura Bush, 55, chose “Home for the Holidays” as the White House theme. Although she began preparations in March, she said, “Home just meant so much more to everyone … after Sept. 11.”

18of 28Laura and George W. BushThe White House/Eric Draper/APLaura Bush, 58, andGeorge W. Bush, 58, pose in the Blue Room in front of the 2004 tree. The theme that year was “A Season of Merriment and Melody,” and the room was filled with 350 instrument ornaments.

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Laura and George W. Bush

The White House/Eric Draper/AP

Laura Bush, 58, andGeorge W. Bush, 58, pose in the Blue Room in front of the 2004 tree. The theme that year was “A Season of Merriment and Melody,” and the room was filled with 350 instrument ornaments.

19of 28The Obama Years — 2009-2017The White House Official White House PhotographerMichelle Obama, 45, came up with the theme “Reflect, Rejoice, Renew” in 2009, the first year she andPresident Barack Obama, 48, spent in the White House.

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The Obama Years — 2009-2017

The White House Official White House Photographer

Michelle Obama, 45, came up with the theme “Reflect, Rejoice, Renew” in 2009, the first year she andPresident Barack Obama, 48, spent in the White House.

20of 28A Recycled BoUPI/Kevin Dietsch /LANDOVMichelle had many original ideas during her years as First Lady, including building a replica of the family dog, Bo, out of plastic garbage bags in 2011.

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A Recycled Bo

UPI/Kevin Dietsch /LANDOV

Michelle had many original ideas during her years as First Lady, including building a replica of the family dog, Bo, out of plastic garbage bags in 2011.

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Snowmen Friends or Foes?

Jon Elswick/AP

In 2015, Michelle had the White House decorators set up 56 “snow people” to represent each of the United States' states and territories, and did it again in 2016.

Barack, though, was apparently not a fan, jokingly telling PEOPLE that he finds them “a little creepy.”

“There’s a whole kind ofChuckyelement to them,” he said.

22of 28The Trump Years — 2017-2021Cheriss May/NurPhoto/GettyFor President Donald J. TrumpandFirst Lady Melania Trump’s first year at 1600 Pennsylvania, she chose a “Time-Honored Traditions” theme to “pay respect to 200 years of holiday traditions at the White House,” a press release from her office said.The decorations includedan homage to the first themed White House Christmas — which was the “Nutcracker Suite” in 1961 — a Christmas dinner display featuring the china from President Ronald Reagan, and the official White House Christmas tree, adorned with glass ornaments depicting the seal of each State and territory.

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The Trump Years — 2017-2021

Cheriss May/NurPhoto/Getty

For President Donald J. TrumpandFirst Lady Melania Trump’s first year at 1600 Pennsylvania, she chose a “Time-Honored Traditions” theme to “pay respect to 200 years of holiday traditions at the White House,” a press release from her office said.

The decorations includedan homage to the first themed White House Christmas — which was the “Nutcracker Suite” in 1961 — a Christmas dinner display featuring the china from President Ronald Reagan, and the official White House Christmas tree, adorned with glass ornaments depicting the seal of each State and territory.

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Red Letter Day

Melania Trump.FLOTUS/Twitter

“I think they look fantastic. I hope everybody will come over and visit it. In real life, they look even more beautiful. You are all welcome to visit the White House, the people’s house,” she said during her appearance as part of her Be Best initiative.

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White House, White Décor

Melania Trump/Twitter

For 2019, Melania opted for a predominantly bright-and-white holiday theme.

The first ladytweeted a videoshowing her touring the seasonal decorations, including ornate gold-and-white trees, a garden’s worth of white flowers and a mini replica of the White House itself, adorned with tiny wreaths.

25of 28The Biden Years — 2021-PresentANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty ImagesFirst LadyJill Bidenand a team of more than 100 volunteersdecked the halls of the White Housefor the holidays with 41 Christmas trees and 25 wreaths, 6,000 feet of ribbon, more than 300 candles, 10,000 ornaments and 78,750 lights.The decorationsaligned with 2021’s theme: “Gifts from the Heart.““The things we hold sacred unite us and transcend distance, time, and even the constraints of a pandemic: faith, family, and friendship; a love of the arts, learning, and nature; gratitude, service, and community; unity and peace,” the couple wrote in acommemorative visitors' guide. “These are the gifts that tie together the heart strings of our lives. These are theGifts from the Heart.”

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The Biden Years — 2021-Present

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

First LadyJill Bidenand a team of more than 100 volunteersdecked the halls of the White Housefor the holidays with 41 Christmas trees and 25 wreaths, 6,000 feet of ribbon, more than 300 candles, 10,000 ornaments and 78,750 lights.

The decorationsaligned with 2021’s theme: “Gifts from the Heart.”

“The things we hold sacred unite us and transcend distance, time, and even the constraints of a pandemic: faith, family, and friendship; a love of the arts, learning, and nature; gratitude, service, and community; unity and peace,” the couple wrote in acommemorative visitors' guide. “These are the gifts that tie together the heart strings of our lives. These are theGifts from the Heart.”

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The People’s House

White House

The 2022 decorationsare themed “We the People,” and feature 83,615 holiday lights, 77 Christmas trees, a gingerbread house bedecked in 40 lbs. of icing — and nods to the White House pets: the Bidens' German shepherdCommanderand catWillow.

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Better Together

Each room of the White House is decorated in this year’s theme, which the White House explains in a release is meant to symbolize “what brings us together during the holidays and throughout the year.”

28of 28Something SweetWhite HouseAmong the other notable pieces of holiday décor is the annual gingerbread replica of the White House, made with 20 sheets of sugar cookie dough, 30 sheets of gingerbread dough, 100 lbs. of pastillage, 30 lbs. of chocolate, and 40 lbs. of royal icing.

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Something Sweet

Among the other notable pieces of holiday décor is the annual gingerbread replica of the White House, made with 20 sheets of sugar cookie dough, 30 sheets of gingerbread dough, 100 lbs. of pastillage, 30 lbs. of chocolate, and 40 lbs. of royal icing.

source: people.com