On Christmas Eve, the White House released a breathtaking holiday drone tour, showcasing the beautifully decorated interiors of the historic residence. In this special holiday video, President Joe Biden provided a heartfelt narration, wishing Americans a ‘Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.’
The holiday video, which was shared on social media platforms, was part of the Bidens’ tradition of opening the White House to the public during the holidays. Through this aerial tour, the first family extended their warm wishes to the American people, inviting them into their festive celebrations at one of the most iconic addresses in the country.
‘Too often we see each other as enemies ― not as neighbors, not as fellow Americans,’ said President Joe Biden. ‘So my hope this Christmas season is that we take a few moments of quiet reflection and find that stillness in the heart of Christmas and look at each other as who we really are: fellow Americans, fellow human beings worthy of being treated with dignity and respect. Because there’s so much that unites as Americans, so much more that unites us than divides us.’
The drone footage offers a unique aerial perspective of the White House, capturing the grandeur of the historic building, adorned with twinkling lights, wreaths, and seasonal décor. The flight path showcases multiple rooms decorated for the holidays, with the drone gracefully manoeuvring around delicate ornaments, historic artifacts, and architectural features. It features glimpses of the East Room, State Dining Room, the East Colonnade with a collection of bells, the China Room with food, the Library, the Diplomatic Reception Room, the Green Room, and other key areas, all elegantly transformed for the holiday season.
The first Christmas tree is dedicated to Gold Star Families. This year’s Gold Star Tree exhibit is constructed of six oversized and stacked stars, representing all six branches of the military. Names of fallen service members are written on gold star ornaments on the four accompanying Christmas trees. The Gold Star Trees honor the heroic men and women of the military who have laid down their lives for the US, those who are Missing in Action, and the families who carry on their legacies.
The White House Library features a collection of selected works to represent a full spectrum of American thought and tradition for the use of the President, his family, and his staff. It holds approximately 2,700 volumes of books. The room is approximately 27 by 23 feet (8.2 by 7.0 m) and is in the northeast corner of the ground floor. A classroom teacher for forty years, First Lady Jill Biden added children’s books to the White House Library collection, in collaboration with the Library of Congress.
The Diplomatic Reception Room on the ground floor is used as an entrance from the South Lawn, for the family and for visiting heads of state after an official State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn. Foreign ambassadors also present their credentials here. The room has four doors, which lead to the Map Room, the Center Hall, the China Room, and a vestibule that leads to the South Lawn. The wallpaper features scenes of Boston Harbor, the Natural Bridge in Virginia, West Point, New York, Niagara Falls, and New York Harbor. Holiday florals and fruit are on display in this room, as a nod to the importance of hospitality and grace to peaceful diplomacy.
In the Green Room, light shines through colored glass ornaments and prisms, reflecting beautiful hues throughout the room. Once Thomas Jefferson’s dining room, the Green Room houses Henry Ossawa Tanner’s painting, Sand Dunes at Sunset, Atlantic City. Tanner mixed actual sand into his paint to illustrate the windswept beaches of our coasts.
The Blue Room is one of three state parlors on the first floor. The room is used for receptions and receiving lines and is occasionally set for small dinners. The Blue Room is furnished in the French Empire style. Now, it showcases the official White House Christmas Tree. This year’s tree is an 18½ foot Fraser Fir from North Carolina and stands floor to ceiling, filling the oval room. Every year, the Blue Room chandelier is removed to accommodate the Christmas tree’s full height.
The ornaments on the Christmas trees in the State Dining Room were crafted as self-portraits by students from across the country, ensuring that children see themselves reflected in this year’s holiday display.
The décor of the Vermeil Room (vermeil is the French term for silver dipped in gold) is devoted to floral displays, using a variety of materials. On the walls of this room are the portraits of first ladies, including Mamie Eisenhower, Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson, and Jacqueline Kennedy. Over sixty years ago, Mrs. Kennedy founded the White House Historical Association to protect, preserve, and provide public access to the rich history of the People’s House.
The China Room displays a baker’s bench and artisanal breads, reminding guests of the peaceful, patient, and loving process of baking bread.
A favorite for all during the holidays is the annual Gingerbread White House. This year’s sweet creation draws inspiration from the overall holiday décor theme of a “Season of Peace and Light.” A glowing starburst shines over the Gingerbread White House, and the sugary replica includes a cheerful scene of ice skaters on the South Lawn.
Each room and design element throughout the White House holiday display are guided by the peace and light of the holiday season. From the shimmering decorations to the carefully chosen colors and symbols, every detail is intended to evoke a sense of warmth, hope, and togetherness, inviting all who visit to experience the spirit of the holidays in a meaningful and joyous way.
Fotos: Holidays at the White House © The White House