WASHINGTON — As President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden approach their final holiday season at the White House, the residence has been adorned with festive decorations under the theme of “A Season of Peace and Light.”
Jill Biden is scheduled to unveil the elaborate holiday decorations and share a festive message during a White House event on Monday.
In preparation for the festivities, numerous volunteers dedicated the past week to embellishing the public spaces of the White House. Their efforts included using nearly 10,000 feet of ribbon and more than 28,000 ornaments, alongside over 2,200 doves and 165,000 lights integrated into wreaths, garlands, and various displays.
Within the mansion, 83 Christmas trees have been set up, highlighted by the official tree in the Blue Room. This magnificent Fraser fir, which hails from North Carolina, was secured to the ceiling following the removal of the chandelier.
In a commemorative holiday guidebook that will be distributed to visitors, the Bidens expressed, “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.”
The White House anticipates approximately 100,000 guests to visit throughout the month.
Upon arrival, visitors will pass beneath a rotating starlight display and be immersed in the festive sounds symbolized by brass-colored bells hanging from the ceiling and jovial sleigh bells lining the archways as they proceed along the East Colonnade hallway.
In the East Room upstairs, the ceiling and windows have been draped in a reflective fabric designed to evoke the sensation of gentle snowfall. Striking silhouettes of people holding hands adorn the bases of two grand Christmas trees in this room.
Light filters through vibrant glass ornaments and prisms in the Green Room, while paper doves in the Red Room carry messages of peace. Additional doves are suspended above in Cross Hall.
The tree in the Blue Room features a carousel illuminated with lights, showcasing the names of all U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia interspersed throughout its decorations.
In the State Dining Room, a sparkling starburst hovers over a gingerbread replica of the White House, which this year exhibits a scene of individuals ice skating on the South Lawn.
This delightful confectionery, designed solely for display rather than consumption, was crafted using 25 sheets of gingerbread dough, 10 sheets of sugar cookie dough, 65 pounds of pastillage (a sugar paste), 45 pounds of chocolate, 50 pounds of royal icing, and 10 pounds of gum paste.
As part of Joining Forces, Jill Biden’s initiative aimed at supporting military families, she has invited National Guard families to be the first members of the public to explore the holiday decorations. This initiative holds personal significance for the Bidens, as their late son, Beau, served with the Delaware Army National Guard.