Past and present presidents have demonstrated remarkably Christmas trees at the White House.
Former President Benjamin Harrison is credited by the White House Historical Association as the first to display a Christmas tree in the White House, placing one in the Second Oval in 1889.
The first known Christmas tree displayed at the White House was decorated with candles for Harrison's descendants, according to the White House Historical Association.
Former President Theodore Roosevelt was president before Christmas trees became the centerpiece of holiday celebrations at the White House. (Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
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It is believed that when Theodore Roosevelt took office in 1901, the Christmas tree tradition did not exist during his entire presidency. The answers to whether the Christmas tree is “banned” this season, and why, are not clear cut.
According to History.com, Roosevelt “banned a Christmas tree from the White House,” for “environmental reasons” to blame.
The National Christmas Tree Association agreed, on their website that in 1901, Roosevelt tried to stop the practice of putting up Christmas trees in homes because of concerns about deforestation.
According to the Forest History Society, the the tradition of the Christmas tree The White House was not established until the 1920s, and presidents before Roosevelt decided to have a tree and others chose not to.
Today, the White House has many Christmas trees, including those that are lit at the annual ceremony. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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In the early days of the Christmas tree, especially families with young children who chose to display and decorate one in their homes, according to the source.
The White House Historical Association described Roosevelt's ban on Christmas trees in the White House as “myth,” with little evidence to support the claim other than the simple fact that the family chose not to put up a tree.
The Roosevelts celebrated Christmas with many well-known traditions such as the exchange of gifts, to join the church service and enjoy a good meal as a family, but choose not to plant a tree, according to the source.
However, in 1902, young Archibald “Archie” Roosevelt, the president's son, slyly placed a small tree in the White House room which he decorated and proudly presented to his family.
The son of former President Theodore Roosevelt, Archibald Roosevelt, introduced a small tree to decorate 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 given the reason that Roosevelt did not have a large tree displayed during his presidency as related to his conservation efforts, but according to the White House Association, it was because the tradition of the Christmas tree was the only one that was not done by the family.
It was a few years later, in 1912, when the first Christmas tree was put on display in the Blue Room by the children of former President William H. Taft, according to the source, as a way to surprise their parents. when they came back from afar.
It was during the time of former president Dwight Eisenhower that the Christmas tree found a home in the Blue Room regularly held 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 tradition that continues today of decorating the Blue Room tree with a theme, which he started in 1961.
The first Christmas tree theme chosen by Kennedy was the ballet “Nutcracker Suite”. The 2024 White House nominee is 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 tree, according to the National Tree Lighting website.
Beginning in 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association provided a Christmas tree to be displayed in the Blue Room of the White House.
The 2024 White House Tree from Cartner's Christmas Tree Farm in Newland, North Carolina.