As a change in presidential administrations approaches, President-elect Trump and President Biden both marked the Christmas holiday, with Biden acknowledging that it would be his last time as president to wish the nation a merry Christmas.
Trump, who will be sworn in on Jan. 20, exclaimed in a post on Truth Social, "MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!" In another post he shared a photo of himself and his wife Melania — the photo bore the message "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"
In a post on the @POTUS presidential X account, Biden said: "For the last time as your president, it's my honor to wish all of America a very Merry Christmas. My hope for our nation, today and always, is that we continue to seek the light of liberty and love, kindness and compassion, dignity and decency. May God bless you all."
A post on the @JoeBiden X account that features a photo of the president and first lady Jill Biden reads, "Merry Christmas, everyone!"
Trump — who defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the November election — made history this year by becoming the second president ever to win election to two non-consecutive terms. The first was Grover Cleveland in the 19th century. While the new year will mark a new chapter in Trump's political career, it also marks the end of Biden's decades-long stint at the top levels of Washington politics.
Biden, the oldest president in U.S. history, bowed out of the 2024 presidential contest earlier this year in the face of tremendous pressure from within his party after a widely panned debate performance against Trump.
As the smell of pine fills the air and the stockings are hung with care, some liberal media outlets served up advice that’s as hard to swallow as a dry fruitcake. Their mission? Equipping you to survive holiday conversations with Trump-supporting relatives.
From suggested scripts that sound more like hostage negotiations to icebreakers better suited for therapy sessions than a festive family gathering, here are five of the most over-the-top ideas mainstream media is dishing out to keep your Christmas "Trump-proof."
For one HuffPost contributor, the election of Trump wasn't just a political turning point — it was a holiday deal-breaker. Faced with the knowledge that her husband and his family voted for the former president, she decided to cancel both Thanksgiving and Christmas altogether. No lights, no carols, no awkward family dinners.
"But I will not give thanks and hold hands in a circle with people who voted for a party that wants to take rights away from LGBTQ people," guest contributor Andrea Tate wrote. "I will not pass the turkey to someone who supports people who have signaled they will cause harm to people with disabilities and the elderly. I will not sit by a Christmas tree celebrating the birth of Jesus and sipping eggnog when I know how many people may now find themselves in grave – even deadly — danger because they cannot get the reproductive care they need. I will not unwrap gifts given to me by people who voted for a party that has talked about building internment camps and mass deportation."
After a psychologist made headlines last month arguing people should avoid Trump-supporting relatives this holiday season, "The View" co-host Sunny Hostin agreed, saying many people feel "someone voted not only against their families but against them."
Shortly after the election, Yale University chief psychiatry resident Dr. Amanda Calhoun spoke to MSNBC host Joy Reid about how liberals who are devastated by Trump’s re-election can cope with the news, including separating from loved ones.
"There is a push, I think just a societal norm that if somebody is your family, that they are entitled to your time, and I think the answer is absolutely not," Calhoun told the talk show host. "So if you are going to a situation where you have family members, where you have close friends who you know have voted in ways that are against you, like what you said, against your livelihood, it’s completely fine to not be around those people and to tell them why, you know, to say, ‘I have a problem with the way that you voted, because it went against my very livelihood and I’m not going to be around you this holiday.’"
If your holiday feast feels more like a political debate than a festive gathering, Time magazine has your back with a list of 11 carefully crafted phrases to defuse family tension.
The top pick? A simple yet stern declaration: "I won’t be talking about politics today." Framed as a way to create a politics-free safe zone, the advice encourages setting boundaries with relatives whose views you loathe — so you can focus on what really matters.
"Emphasize that you want to keep the focus on the festivities at hand, and ask for a commitment to avoid polarizing topics. If the conversation still ends up turning in that direction, shut it down: ‘OK, that’s enough of that,’ or, ‘We’re not talking about that here today,’" the Time article states.
The Associated Press has a simple solution: take a breather. Whether the conversation veers into a political minefield or Uncle Bob just won’t stop, the AP suggests calmly excusing yourself from the fray. No need for a dramatic exit — just a composed stroll to the kitchen, the porch, or anywhere that isn’t the battlefield of your family table.
"Things getting intense? Defuse the situation. Walk away. And it doesn’t have to be in a huff. Sometimes a calm and collected time out is just what you — and the family — might need," the article recommends.
In a searing MSNBC op-ed, writer Amira Barger challenges the notion that family gatherings should always be sacred if they have different beliefs. The author doesn't differentiate between Trump-supporting family members and liberal voters.
"I have come to realize that being related by blood doesn’t necessarily mean that those gathered will protect you," Barger wrote. "Finding family isn’t always about unity, or forcing yourself to remain in a place that causes you harm. Sometimes, it’s about clarity, and the difficult choices that come with it.
"This fall, after a conversation that spanned more than 1,000 texts in various family group chats, my husband and I made the difficult decision to hold a hard and fast boundary with much of my immediate family, whose stated values and votes made it clear to us that we could not feel comfortable around them."
She adds, "These were decisions we did not make lightly or hastily, but sometimes the best course of action is, in fact, to ban the bad actors."
Fox News Digital's Alexander Hall contributed to this report.
The holiday season for NFL players means focusing on finishing the regular season strong with only a couple of weeks left on the schedule.
For some, it’s the race to the playoffs. For others, it’s putting good reps on tape and hoping the season ends on a high note.
But what’s not lost for these athletes, though, is holiday spirit as evident by four NFL stars – Tee Higgins (Cincinnati Bengals), James Conner (Arizona Cardinals), Pat Surtain II (Denver Broncos) and Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders) – helping Raising Cane’s give away bikes to children this past week in their respective communities.
In speaking with each star last week, Fox News Digital asked them to go into the memory bank to find their favorite Christmas memories.
For Daniels, the Offensive Rookie of the Year frontrunner, he couldn’t just pick one because of how much spending time with family means to him.
"Pretty much all of them," he said, laughing. "Being around my family, enjoying the holidays. I’d probably say when I was younger growing up and being able to wake up on Christmas, open presents and watch Kobe Bryant play basketball. Those are my favorite memories."
Surtain grew up with a father playing in the NFL, so he understands well how time together on the holidays with family is precious.
"This probably going to sound a little cliché, but my favorite moments are just spending time with family at the end of the day," he explained. "Presents mean a lot, but that’s something that’s going to be here and there. Spending time, spending cherished moments with family means a lot, especially during the holiday.
"I always remember having a big family gathering back then. Great food on the counter, playing great Christmas activities, playing different games and stuff. I always would remember and share those special memories that are in a special place in my heart. I think sharing those memories with my family is always going to be beautiful."
Conner also enjoyed every ounce of time he got to spend with family, especially when it came to a cherished Christmas tradition.
"I remember putting my tree up as a young kid at the house," he said. "We had a little small five-foot tree. Putting it up, just got you in the Christmas spirit early."
And perhaps some of us know what it’s like to be curious in the middle of the night, seeing if there are presents around the tree.
That was Higgins, who immediately knew his favorite Christmas memory, even if it came with some parental discipline.
"I remember one time waking up in the middle of the night, and my dad had got me this dirt bike," Higgins started. "It’s sitting in the living room. I woke up in the middle of the night, my parents are asleep. I go in there and I crank the dirt bike, and everybody in the house woke up. I ended getting a whooping very quick."
Don’t worry, Higgins was able to use his new dirt bike the next day.
The common theme at the end of the day here is quality time with family and making memories that will last a lifetime.
The traditional English carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas" has long been a favorite during the holiday season, standing the test of time through the centuries and inspiring amusing parodies like Bob Rivers' "Twelve Pains of Christmas."
But the song – which counts up from Christmas to Epiphany on Jan. 6 – has also become the peg for a whimsical way to gauge year-over-year inflation. Pennsylvania-based PNC Bank and other financial institutions have tracked the costs of each set of gifts from "Twelve Drummers Drumming" to a "Partridge in a Pear Tree" to see exactly how much it might cost a man to deliver each to his true love.
PNC’s Christmas Price Index indicated the overall cost of the song’s gifts increased 5.4% since 2023, totaling just under $50,000.
Meanwhile, the Texas-based business company Swyft Filings noted in 2023 that costs would also vary depending on each state. Taxes, regulations and other factors would be the most likely variables. The company found California, Hawaii and Washington to be the most expensive and Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama to be the least expensive, given that variation.
Here's a breakdown of the costs counting down from the 12th day.
12 Drummers Drumming
PNC Bank cited wage inflation as the driving factor behind the increase in renting a 12-piece drum corps this year. Their estimated cost was $4,017; an increase of 15.6% over 2023.
Several websites estimated the average cost of a drummer for two hours was between $250 and $500, depending on the set. Taking the median of that rate and multiplying by a dozen drummers places the cost around $4,500, plus gratuity, of course.
11 Pipers Piping
Eleven flutists, or hiring an 11-piece wind ensemble, bear a similar cost-per-head as drummers.
In that regard, PNC Bank estimated the same 15.6% increase as the dozen drummers, with a final cost of $3,715.
10 Lords-a-Leaping
In the British political system, a lord is a title of peerage or nobility dating back to feudal England, and the House of Lords is the current name for the upper chamber of Parliament.
Placing the phrase in an American context, it remains illegal to physically or proverbially purchase a senator for any purpose including leaping, and public corruption has often been a topic in the media.
However, some estimates have been published on what the cost would be to pay 10 senators or lords to jump.
PNC reported 10 lords-a-leaping would be the most expensive purchase of the 12, with an estimated 2024 cost of $15,579.65 – an increase of 7.2% since 2023.
Nine Ladies Dancing
According to the website GigSalad, the average cost of a dance troupe for a 30-minute performance is between $200 and $400. The freelancing platform UpWork listed dancers for hire ranging from $30 per hour to more than $100 per hour.
The median cost per dancer per hour multiplied by nine comes out to $405 for a half-hour.
In PNC’s tracking, nine ladies dancing in the form of a professional troupe would cost $8,557 for an undisclosed set time, up 3% in the past year.
Eight Maids-a-Milking
Milk prices are back on the upswing in recent months, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. In November, the average price-per-gallon of whole milk was $4.14, an increase from a flat $4 that time last year.
The ubiquitous beverage saw a spike during COVID and settled in the two years since, but is on the increase once more.
Adding milkmaids to the equation, PNC Bank estimated a cost of $58, unchanged from 2023.
Seven Swans-a-Swimming
One Midwest swan farm listed the price-per-bird at $400. In 2020, the city of Lakeland, Florida, was dealing with an overpopulation of about 80 swans on a lake in the community outside Tampa. The going price then was also $400, according to CNN.
Listings on BirdsNow ranged from $400 to $2500, with a pair being markedly more expensive than two individuals. Altogether, PNC estimated the total cost to exceed $13,000, with no increase over 2023.
Six Geese-a-laying
While a South Dakota goose farm listed the price of an 8- to 10-pound goose for consumption at $140 each – calculating to $8,400 for a half-dozen, the cost of live geese that can lay eggs was different.
Prices for live goslings averaged $40 each online, or $240 for six.
PNC’s Christmas index, however, calculated the full cost at $900, or 15% higher than 2023.
Five Gold Rings
On Monday, gold futures hovered around $2,600 per ounce. While PNC estimated the total cost of five gold rings to be $1,245, the actual value may vary depending on the carats, size of ring and other factors.
There is some debate over whether the original lyric is really "four colly birds" versus "four calling birds." A colly bird is a blackbird in English vernacular. The term "colly" has its roots in how something looks when blackened by coal dust.
The cost of a live blackbird is between $150 and $225, and PNC estimates four to cost just under $600 – which indicates the lower end of that price spectrum. The bank estimated the cost remained unchanged since 2023.
Three French Hens
The French Bresse hen is considered one of the most sought-after chickens in the world.
Butchers in Paris were selling French hens for €40 per kilo or about $92 per pound. Live poults purchased from farms in the United States ranged from a few dollars up to about $250 as of Monday.
In PNC’s index, the cost of three French hens increased 5% from 2023 to about $347.
Two Turtledoves
In 1992’s "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McCallister visits "Duncan’s Toy Chest" – a play on Manhattan’s iconic FAO Schwarz department store.
The elderly owner, played by Eddie Bracken, offers Kevin any one of his store’s Christmas tree’s ornaments.
Mr. Duncan tells Kevin he should keep one turtledove and give the second to "a very special person."
"Turtledoves are a symbol of friendship and love," he explains. "As long as you each have a turtledove, you’ll be friends forever."
Kevin ultimately gives the second turtledove to Brenda Fricker’s "Pigeon Lady" at the end of the film after she helps capture the movie's villains, Daniel Stern’s Marv and Joe Pesci’s Harry.
While that cinematic pair may have been priceless, PNC’s index placed the price of a pair at $750, and European turtledoves themselves are considered a threatened species.
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree
The Home Depot listed Bartlett pear trees at about $58 this week.
Additionally, in an American context, Alaska’s state bird – the Willow Ptarmigan – is a more common type of western partridge.
"Huns" or Hungarian gray partridges were also introduced in the Lower 48’s northwest in the early 20th century.
Costs of both live ptarmigan and ptarmigan meat were unavailable on Monday, but PNC estimated the combined cost as $160. The bank reported the cost of the bird remained the same, but the pear tree increased in price since 2023.
In its reporting on its own estimations, PNC officials said on the bank’s website that the internet has made the calculation and potential availability of the items in the ancient English carol much more accessible in the 40 years it has calculated their costs.
"Believe it or not, we're still seeing the cause and effect of the pandemic-inflation hangover, even nearly five years later," PNC Asset Management Group chief investment officer Amanda Agati said in a statement.
"With years of steep price increases, we'd think inflation has nowhere to go, but we'd be wrong. This latest PNC CPI is an accurate reflection of what we're seeing in the market."
Online purchases of the lyrical items were calculated to be more expensive online than at a brick-and-mortar store due to shipping costs.
The overall cost of the 12 Days of Christmas increased 133% in the past four decades, with factors such as minimum wage increases particularly affecting the for-hire gifts such as pipers and drummers.
If an enterprising fellow were to purchase his beau the song's 364 total gifts from the 12-day giving spree, it would rise from 2023 by 3.6% to an estimated cost of $209,272.
Christmas Day is a time for Americans and others across the world who celebrate the holiday to spend time with loved ones while participating in time-honored traditions – and members of Congress are no exception.
Far away from the bustle and drama of Capitol Hill, lawmakers opened up to Fox News Digital about their favorite ways to spend the Christmas holiday, both past and present.
"Jacquie and I are excited to have the whole crew under one roof for an ice cold Minnesota Christmas, complete with four grandkids who're getting a crash course in the joy (and noise!) of an Emmer family holiday," House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., told Fox News Digital. "The Christmas Village is all set up, and ugly sweaters are a must."
In South Dakota, Republican Sen. Mike Rounds has more than 100 members of his family in attendance each year for Christmas Eve to eat homemade chicken noodle soup, his office told Fox News Digital.
"Senator Rounds’ late wife Jean was also very talented at making cross stitch and needlework art, and Senator Rounds and his children decorate the whole house with all of her handmade Christmas art," his office said.
Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., recalled a Christmas scavenger hunt that her parents orchestrated.
"My parents always set up a treasure hunt on Christmas Eve. My four siblings and I had to de-code a series of clues that led us to various parts of the house to find the next clue, that eventually led us to the final clue, which was where the presents we opened were found," Tenney said.
She said locations included "the trunk of the car, the dryer, or a storage closet."
"It was really fun, and my parents made the clues more and more clever and challenging each year," Tenney said. "Then we went to our neighbor's across the street for their annual Christmas Eve party. The entire neighborhood was invited. Afterward, many of us, including our Jewish neighbors, went to midnight mass at the Presbyterian Church."
Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., meanwhile, said her favorite Christmas tradition was skiing with her grandchildren in Star Valley in western Wyoming.
And for Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., Christmas means family dinners and board games.
"We go to Christmas Eve Mass at the parish I grew up in and go to dinner at my parents' house," Schmitt told Fox News Digital. "Larger family gets together after Christmas for [an] epic game of RISK."
Presidents have historically developed their own Christmas traditions as they make their unique marks on the White House during their terms. In recent years, Christmases have been spent in an array of places by commanders in chief, from Hawaii, to Texas to Mar-a-Lago.
President Joe Biden opted in 2021 to move his family's Christmas celebration to the White House, rather than its usual location in his home state of Delaware. The extended Biden family reportedly attended Mass on Christmas Eve and then returned to the White House where they enjoyed a pasta dinner and had a sleepover, which are traditions in the family.
Before him, former President Donald Trump — who will soon take office again — spent Christmases in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago estate, per reports. During their holidays in Florida, Trump and first lady Melania Trump attended Christmas services at a local Episcopal church in Palm Beach, where the two married in 2005.
Former President Barack Obama established a tradition as president of spending the Christmas holiday with his family in Hawaii. As reported, the president's Christmases in the state were relatively quiet, spent with friends and family. However, they established a tradition of visiting a local Marine base to thank soldiers for their service on Christmas Day.
Prior to Obama, President George Bush chose to spend his Christmases near to the nation's capital at the Camp David presidential retreat. This was something first established by his father, former President George H. W. Bush. In 2008, the Bush family reportedly celebrated what was their 12th Christmas at Camp David.
Further back, U.S. presidents have held a variety of events to mark the Christmas season at the White House, some more elaborate than others. In 1835, President Andrew Jackson famously hosted an indoor "snowball" fight for children at his "frolic" party. The party included games, dancing and a festive dinner and ended with a snowball fight, during which the participants used specially made cotton balls.
President Franklin Roosevelt had his own tradition of reading Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" aloud after a Christmas Eve meal.
According to the White House Historical Association, there is a popular myth suggesting that President Theodore Roosevelt banned trees from being cut down and placed in the White House as decoration. This was prompted in part by the fact that the Roosevelts did not mark the holiday with a tree.
The WHHA noted that Christmas trees in every home is a relatively modern tradition.
Per the association, Roosevelt's son Archie started his own tradition by sneaking a small tree into the White House and placing it in a closet. He decorated it before revealing the tree to his family and starting a new holiday tradition.
Daniel Jones is no longer with the New York Giants, but that didn’t stop him from getting in the Christmas spirit with his former teammates.
Jones, currently a member of the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad, sent all the offensive lineman that were on the Giants with him a limited-edition bottle of Clase Azul tequila for Christmas, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
Jones, 27, was benched after the Giants' bye week and then asked for his release so he could sign with a contender for the rest of the season.
Jones was beloved by his Giants teammates in New York, many taking to social media to express their support for their former quarterback when he was released.
The Vikings signed Jones to their practice squad shortly after, giving Jones a chance to develop under head coach Kevin O’Connell.
It is commonplace for quarterbacks in the NFL to buy their offensive lineman gifts for Christmas as a thank-you for blocking for them.
However, it is not common for quarterbacks to buy gifts for their former teammates after joining a new team.
Since releasing Jones, the Giants have started Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock at quarterback.
The Giants are 2-12 and, with each loss, are getting closer to landing the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NFL Draft, where they hope to select their next franchise quarterback.
Jones’ Vikings are in much better shape. The Detroit Lions and Vikings are both 12-2 with an eye on not only winning the NFC North but securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
If it looked as though Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was irate with referees at the end of Thursday night’s loss to the Chicago Bulls, that would be incorrect to assume. At least, that is what Mazzulla would like people to think.
Following the 117-108 loss, Mazzulla charged the court looking to have words with official Justin Van Duyne seemingly in reference to the back-to-back technicals the official gave him and Celtics forward Jaylen Brown in the fourth quarter.
Several people had to hold Mazzulla back. He was eventually ushered off the court without incident.
During his postgame presser, Mazzulla said he received a technical for walking on the court – something he admitted he should not have done. However, when asked what "message" he was trying to deliver at the end of the game, Mazzulla had an interesting explanation.
"I hadn’t seen them in a while, so just a ‘Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays,’" he said with a serious expression.
"I wasn’t sure I was gonna see them before the holiday, and you just can’t let a moment go by where you wish someone the best to them and their families."
Brown, however, was not wishing anyone a happy holiday in his interactions with game officials.
"I said to (Van Duyne), ‘You called a tech for no reason.’ He said, ‘If you say to it me again, I’m going to call another tech,’" Brown said, explaining that he approached Van Duyne to clarify what Mazzulla’s tech was for.
"You can’t threaten guys with a technical foul, that’s not part of the game either. If you want to fine guys for gesturing and all that stuff – fine that. That’s some bulls---."
Mazzulla will have the chance to spread some more holiday cheer when the two teams meet again on Saturday.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy joked last Christmas that he could not afford the traditional gifts given to the offensive linemen because of his rookie contract, but this year is a different story.
The 24-year-old signal caller surprised his teammates with quite the gift this holiday season, gifting them all brand-new cars.
"Boys, I just want to say Merry Christmas. I got some gifts for you guys — sorry for the wait, but if you want to follow me outside," Purdy said in a video shared by the team on social media.
Once outside, the team saw nine brand-new cars: five Toyota Sequoias and four Toyota Tundras.
"Oh, my God, I can’t believe this," offensive tackle Nick Zakelj said with a laugh.
"Listen to the purr," guard Aaron Banks said as he revved the engine. "Purdy, that purr is Purdy."
"My mind is blown, honestly," offensive tackle Jaylon Moore added. "This is probably the greatest gift I ever got in my life."
Last season, star running back Christian McCaffrey gifted the offensive linemen a custom golf bag, a certificate for fitted golf clubs and a bottle of tequila — a gesture usually reserved for the quarterback.
"Financially, I wouldn’t be able to cover that right now," Purdy joked with reporters at the time. "Shout-out to him. Everyone loved it. So, thank you, Christian."
Purdy is still on his rookie deal, a contract that pays him $985,000 this season. However, the fourth-year quarterback is due for a massive payday.
As the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, "Mr. Irrelevant" stunned fans during his rookie season when he took over the starting role as the third-string quarterback following injuries to Trey Lance and eventually Jimmy Garoppolo.
Purdy led the team all the way to the NFC Championship before suffering a devastating injury to his throwing arm. He returned the following season to lead the Niners all the way to the Super Bowl.
Now, the 49ers are expected to lock down Purdy with a massive long-term contract extension in the offseason.
"I think Brock has done nothing but play at a very, very high level," tight end George Kittle said recently of what Purdy’s new deal might look like, per NBC Sports. "The nice thing about contracts is when you play at a high level, you can compare yourself to other people in the league and when other guys are getting paid $50-$60 million, and you’re a better quarterback than they are, it’s hard not to get that same amount of money."
Former President Benjamin Harrison is credited by the White House Historical Association as the first to display a Christmas tree in the White House, having placed one in the Second Floor Oval Room in 1889.
That first known Christmas tree to be displayed in the White House was adorned with candles for Harrison's grandchildren, according to the White House Historical Association.
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 their website that in 1901, Roosevelt tried to stop the practice of having Christmas trees in homes because of concern about the destruction of forests.
According to the Forest History Society, the tradition of a Christmas tree at the White House was one not established until the 1920s, with presidents prior to Roosevelt making a decision to have a tree and others choosing not to.
During the early days of the Christmas tree, it was mainly those families with young children who chose to display and decorate one in their homes, according to the source.
The White House Historical Association described the alleged Roosevelt ban on Christmas trees at the White House as a "myth," with little evidence to support the claim other than the simple fact that the family chose not to put up a tree.
The Roosevelt's did celebrate Christmas with many popular traditions like gift exchanges, attending church service and enjoying a lovely meal as a family, but chose not to put up a tree, according to the source.
Though, in 1902, young Archibald "Archie" Roosevelt, the president's son, sneakily put a miniature tree in a closet of the White House that he decorated and proudly presented to his family.
After that, according to the White House Association, the president allowed the tradition to continue.
Many researchers have provided the reason for Roosevelt not having a large tree on display during his presidency as one connected to his conservationism, but according to the White House Association, it was because the Christmas tree tradition was simply one not practiced by the family.
It was several years later, in 1912, when the very first Christmas tree was put up on display in the Blue Room by former President William H. Taft's children, according to the source, as a means to surprise their parents when they returned from being away.
It was during former President Dwight Eisenhower's presidency when 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.
Kennedy was also responsible for the tradition still held today of decorating the Blue Room tree with a theme, which she began in 1961.
The initial Christmas tree theme chosen by Kennedy was the "Nutcracker Suite" ballet. The 2024 White House theme chosen by first lady Jill Biden was a "Season of Peace and Light," according to WhiteHouse.gov.
Another modern tradition that has withstood the test of time is the annual National 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.
Beginning in 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’s Christmas Tree Farm in Newland, North Carolina.
A satanic "nativity" display involving an occult statue erected on Concord city property near the New Hampshire State Capitol was destroyed shortly after several vandalism incidents last week. Now, Democratic state Rep. Ellen Read is saying that the temple "probably should" get to erect a new display in its place.
"I think they probably should, because I think the vandalism and the hatefulness shouldn’t go without a response. But it’s up to them," Read said, the Catholic News Agency reported.
Read told the outlet she came up with the idea to suggest that The Satanic Temple (TST) put up the Christmas display, which was a statue of Baphomet – despite significant pushback from local officials – arguing that a Catholic groups' Nativity scene of Jesus should not be the only decoration there. She also said she is a member of TST but has not participated in any of its meetings or events.
According to its website, TST's mission "Is To Encourage Benevolence And Empathy, Reject Tyrannical Authority, Advocate Practical Common Sense, Oppose Injustice, And Undertake Noble Pursuits."
"We have publicly confronted hate groups, fought for the abolition of corporal punishment in public schools, applied for equal representation when religious installations are placed on public property, provided religious exemption and legal protection against laws that unscientifically restrict people's reproductive autonomy, exposed harmful pseudo-scientific practitioners in mental health care, organized clubs alongside other religious after-school clubs in schools besieged by proselytizing organizations, and engaged in other advocacy in accordance with our tenets," the website states.
Avoiding a legal dispute over the First Amendment, the Concord City Council approved the organization's permit to show the display, despite the mayor saying earlier this week he wished the city had not approved it.
"I opposed the permit because I believe the request was made not in the interest of promoting religious equity but in order to drive an anti-religious political agenda, and because I do not respond well to legal extortion, the threat of litigation," Concord Mayor Byron Champlin said during the council's meeting last Monday. "Some on social media have celebrated the Satanic Temple’s display as a victory for religious pluralism and a reflection of our growing diversity as a community. I disagree with this. This is about an out-of-state organization cynically promoting its national agenda at the expense of the Concord community."
Meanwhile, the city put out a statement saying that due to the First Amendment and the potential for a lawsuit, the city was forced to choose between banning all holiday displays or allowing TST's statue.
"After reviewing its legal options, the City ultimately decided to continue the policy of allowing unattended displays at City Plaza during this holiday season and to allow the statue," the city said in a statement. "It is anticipated that the City Council will review next year whether permits for unattended holiday displays should be allowed at City Plaza."
Read rebuked the mayor in an interview with the Catholic news outlet this week, saying, "I think it’s the narrow-mindedness of the mayor, who can’t seem to wrap his head around that this represents a large percentage of the community and its beliefs."
In a video posted to Facebook, two TST representatives unveiled the statue Monday. One spokesperson recalled the group's core tenets, before chanting, "Hail Satan!" and showcasing the statue.
Concord Deputy Police Chief John Thomas told a local news outlet that the investigation into who vandalized TST's property is ongoing.
TST has erected several holiday displays near city or state properties, often alongside traditional Christian exhibits, in recent years. In 2022, the Illinois chapter of TST installed a holiday display in the state Capitol rotunda, which featured a crocheted serpent atop a book and a pile of apples. In December 2023, the Iowa TST chapter set up a Baphomet statue at the state Capitol, which was also vandalized shortly after its placement.
Soon after, in 1912, he stepped into the role of chairman of the Forestry Committee of the New York Senate.
At this time, he began to plant trees on his land, which he continued for 34 years, according to the National Park Service website.
By the 1930s, Roosevelt had gotten into the rhythm of having 20,000 to 55,000 trees planted on his land annually, according to the National Park Service.
During the 1930s, Roosevelt began to grow Christmas trees on his estate in Hyde Park, according to the National Christmas Tree Association.
Some of the Christmas trees grown on the estate were sent to Winston Churchill, according to the National Park Service.
Holiday spirit was on full display in the White House during Roosevelt's time in office.
Roosevelt, who spent 12 years in office, the longest term of any U.S. president, spent many of his Christmases the same way while in the White House.
Roosevelt spent 10 consecutive Christmases in the White House, and the last two at home in Hyde Park, according to the White House Historical Association.
Staples of a Roosevelt Christmas included a Christmas Eve party held by the president and the first lady for White House staff and the lighting of the National Christmas Tree, per the source.
It was 1933 when Roosevelt gave his very first holiday message, his "fireside chat," to the nation.
On Christmas morning, the president often spent time with family attending services and opening presents with his grandchildren.
The annual Christmas feast included dishes like roasted turkey, chestnut dressing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, pineapple salad, with plum pudding, eggnog, ice cream and cakes for dessert, according to the White House Historical Association.
Roosevelt's long span in office included devastating events in history, like the Great Depression, the attack on Pearl Harbor and World War II.
During years of turmoil, Christmas traditions saw a shift. For example, during World War II, four of Roosevelt's sons were serving in the armed forces, according to the White House Historical Association, leaving his family scattered around the globe.
During the White House holiday gathering in 1942, the gift given out to employees was "a black leather folder filled with war savings bonds," according to the White House Association. In 1944, a scroll with the president's "D-Day" prayer was handed out to employees.
Roosevelt's last Christmas message was delivered from his home in Hyde Park in 1944.
"We pray that with victory will come a new day of peace on earth in which all the Nations of the earth will join together for all time. That is the spirit of Christmas, the holy day. May that spirit live and grow throughout the world in all the years to come," he said, per the White House Association.
The NFL scheduled a rare slate of Wednesday games this season to ensure it will have games played on Christmas Day, and Patrick Mahomes is not happy about it.
The Kansas City Chiefs are one of four teams that will have to spend their Christmas at work with a matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Baltimore Ravens will play the Houston Texans later that night. That will also mean Mahomes and his teammates will play three games in 11 days. They play the Cleveland Browns Dec. 15 and the Houston Texans Dec. 21.
Last year, the Chiefs faced the Las Vegas Raiders in a Christmas Day game, but that game was on a Monday.
The Chiefs will have less time than usual to prepare for both the Texans and Steelers games. The Houston matchup will be played on a Saturday, and the Steelers game is on a Monday.
Mahomes, who already had to give up his holiday for a football game, agonized over the idea of playing all those games in that short amount of time.
"It’s not a good feeling," Mahomes told reporters Wednesday. "You never want to play this amount of games in this short of time. It’s not great for your body. But, at the end of the day, it’s your job, your profession. You have to come to work and do it."
Mahomes was asked whether he has ever had three games in such a short span.
"I haven’t in football," he replied.
"All you can do is focus on the game. The practice you have that day," Mahomes added. "I try to prepare my body all year long for this stretch. That’s tailoring my workouts, tailoring how you practice and prepare.
"And the coaches do a great job of taking care of us on the practice field. We practice as hard as anybody, but they know how to dial it back when needed."
On top of a strenuous workload, Mahomes and his family will not be able to spend Christmas at home this year for the second year in a row. Mahomes and wife Brittany are both Christians.
"My Christian faith plays a role in everything that I do," he told reporters before the Super Bowl in February 2023. "I always ask God to lead me in the right direction and let me be who I am for His name. So, it has a role in everything that I do. Obviously, we’ll be on that huge stage in the Super Bowl that He’s given me, and I want to make sure I’m glorifying Him while I do it.
"I feel like I’ve grown in my faith these last few years, and I think that’s given me more sense of who I am and why I play the game. It just kind of relieves the pressure of playing a football game because I know that I’m on that football field to glorify Him before everything. So, it’s not about winning or losing. It's about going out there and being the best that I can in His name."
The NFL has played on Wednesday in the past. The most recent Wednesday game was played in 2020, when the Steelers and Ravens had their game pushed back because of a COVID-19 outbreak.
In 2012, the NFL’s opener between the Giants and Cowboys was played on a Wednesday so the TV networks could broadcast Barack Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention.
But before those games, the NFL had not had a Wednesday game since the Lions and Rams played Sept. 22, 1948.
"It’s a unique situation. You just have to manage it," said Chiefs coach Andy Reid, whose team will have played on every day of the week but Tuesday this season. "It is what it is. You make the best of it."
It’s not as if the games involved in the Christmas stretch are throwaways, either. Each has significant playoff ramifications.
The Chiefs have already clinched the AFC West, but they are trying to fend off Buffalo and Pittsburgh for the No. 1 seed and a first-round playoff bye. The Steelers are two games ahead of the Ravens in the AFC North heading into this weekend and could clinch a playoff berth if things fall their way. The Texans are two games up on the Colts in the AFC South.
"The main thing is you get guys ready for the game. Give them a chance to get ready for the game," Reid said. "They’re going to do whatever you present to them. You try to help them out with that. Right now we have a normal week right here. We have to take care of business here."
President Biden participated in the national Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Washington D.C. on Thursday night in what will be his last time attending the annual event before he exits the White House next year to make way for President-elect Donald Trump's return to the Oval Office.
"Merry Christmas America!" Biden declared during remarks at the tree-lighting event.
Freelance photographer Andrew Leyden shared photos of the ceremony, writing on X, "As he left the National Christmas Tree lighting, @POTUS removed his stocking cap, bent over to look at the press and then asked ‘You’re still here?’ It was very cold and windy tonight."
"For a bit of context-- as the night went on and temperatures dipped, Biden put on a wool stocking cap. When it came off static electricity + wind. It happens," he noted in another post.
"Biden’s entire presidency summed up in a hairdo," one X user quipped.
Biden — whose decades-long Washington career has spanned more time than the length of some Americans' entire lives — in 1987 commented on a Washington Post piece that suggested he had undergone a hair transplant.
"Guess," Biden said when asked to confirm the matter, according to the outlet. "I've got to keep some mystery in my life."
While Biden suggested prior to the presidential election that Trump represented a "genuine danger to American security," the outgoing president is slated to attend Trump's inauguration next month.
