Details you may have missed in the White House Christmas decorations
First lady Jill Biden decorated the White House for the 2024 holiday season.
She chose the theme of "A Season of Peace and Light."
Hidden details in the Christmas decorations reference the theme and pay tribute to fallen soldiers.
The White House is decked out for the holidays once again.
For her final White House Christmas decorations as first lady, Jill Biden chose the theme of "A Season of Peace and Light," writing in the 2024 White House Holiday Guide that she and President Joe Biden hope for "the Nation to be blessed with the peace and light of the holiday season."
Hidden details in the decorations include symbols of peace and tributes to Hurricane Helene relief efforts and fallen soldiers.
Take a look at the 2024 White House Christmas decorations.
A beaming starlight sculpture above the East entrance referenced the theme of "A Season of Peace and Light."
Wreaths with matching gold ornaments were mounted on the White House gates.
The gingerbread White House featured a similar starlight design on its roof.
White House executive pastry chef Susan Morrison constructed the gingerbread White House out of 25 gingerbread sheets, 10 sugar cookie sheets, 45 pounds of chocolate, and 50 pounds of royal icing, according to the White House Holiday Guide.
The official White House Christmas tree was sourced from North Carolina in a tribute to those affected by Hurricane Helene.
The Fraser fir was grown at Cartner's Christmas Tree Farm in Newland, North Carolina, which was impacted by the storm.
"The Cartner family lost thousands of trees to the storm," Jill Biden said in her speech while receiving the tree at the White House. "But this one remained standing — and they named it 'Tremendous' for the extraordinary hope that it represents."
The 18-and-a-half-foot tree, which was displayed in the Blue Room, is decorated with the names of every US state and territory.
The official White House Christmas tree was also surrounded by a carousel and featured candy-shaped ornaments.
The Gold Star tree in the East Entrance was made of six stacked stars, representing the six branches of the military.
The names of fallen soldiers appeared on gold star ornaments hanging on the other East entrance trees.
The families of service members on two Navy ships that Jill Biden sponsors made paper-chain garlands for the State Dining Room.
The first lady is a sponsor of two Navy ships, the USS Delaware and the USS Gabrielle Giffords. The Navy families contributed to the White House holiday decorations as part of her Joining Forces initiative.
The decorations in the State Dining Room also included self-portraits drawn by students across the US.
According to the White House Holiday Guide, the self-portraits were included so that "children see themselves reflected in this year's holiday display."
The official White House menorah was displayed in the Cross Hall.
The menorah, which first appeared in the White House holiday decorations in 2022, was constructed using leftover wood from a White House renovation during Harry Truman's presidency.
In the Red Room, Christmas trees featured dove-shaped ornaments in keeping with the theme of "A Season of Peace and Light."
The dove cutouts held red envelopes that read "peace."
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