Presidents past and present have displayed breathtaking 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, 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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

Franklin D. Roosevelt had many Christmas traditions he took part in with his family and White House staff during his time in office. 

Roosevelt was born in 1882 in Hyde Park, New York, a place he called home throughout his life. 

The start of Roosevelt's time in the political sphere started in 1910, when he was elected to the New York Senate.

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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. 

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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.

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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.