Details you may have missed in the White House Christmas decorations
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- 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.
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Wreaths with matching gold ornaments were mounted on the White House gates.
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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.
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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."
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The official White House Christmas tree was also surrounded by a carousel and featured candy-shaped ornaments.
The White House
The names of fallen soldiers appeared on gold star ornaments hanging on the other East entrance trees.
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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.
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According to the White House Holiday Guide, the self-portraits were included so that "children see themselves reflected in this year's holiday display."
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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.
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The dove cutouts held red envelopes that read "peace."
