Inside the White House for the Holidays

So many thoughts on the festive decorations adorning the East Wing.

Dec 24, 2023

Happy holidays! To those of you celebrating, a very merry Christmas weekend.

I wanted to share with you some magical photos from our visit to the White House at the start of the season. My husband, Matt, and I attended the first of several holiday gatherings hosted by the president and first lady. It is quite the entertaining feat, welcoming thousands of guests over several weeks and fulfilling the promise of “The People’s House.”

Returning to Washington, D.C. was a wonderful bookend to the year for me. In January, I first met Dr. Jill Biden at the dedication of her inaugural ensembles to the Smithsonian’s permanent collection. (You can read about that here and here — an incredible trip.)

Coming back at Christmastime was a sight to behold! A few numbers to capture the breadth of what goes into decking the White House halls: roughly 14,975 feet of ribbon are used throughout the East Wing, along with more than 350 candles, 33,900 ornaments and 22,100 bells. Under the direction of several creative teams, some 300 volunteers from around the country spend days installing it all.

I hope the photos below feel as if you are joining me on a room-by-room tour of the displays. My sincere thanks to Kelsey Donohue and the first lady’s team for this special afternoon.

My former Wall Street Journal colleague and collaborator, Jarrard Cole, took these beautiful pictures. They are best viewed in your browser — click here! Thank you, Jarrard.

Inside the White House for the Holidays

The theme of this year’s White House holiday display is “Magic, Wonder, and Joy.” You sense the first lady’s lifelong commitment to children and education throughout the decorations, offering a familiar and friendly feeling to this historic and stately building.

“We hope you will embrace your inner child and delight in simply being present with those you love.” — The president and first lady in the White House Holiday Guide.

Here we are, about to head inside! The smiles say it all. Matt and I met as reporters covering the 2008 presidential campaign, which made this visit to the White House all these years later particularly special.

The first of 98 trees on display, placed prominently in the entrance to the East Wing, is the Gold Star Tree. It is adorned with large wooden ornaments engraved with names of fallen service members and those missing in action.

From there, a hallway takes you into the East Wing, home to the Office of the First Lady as well as the White House Social Secretary. The decorations here cascade from the ceiling, a sea of twinkling lights and oversize confections — the perfect, delicious display while you wait to check your coat. It draws your gaze up immediately, meant to feel like lying underneath a Christmas tree.

Then we had a chance to roam the East Wing! We began on the ground floor, strolling through the historic rooms, each decorated with a theme. I particularly loved the library, nodding to “the tradition and magic of bedtime stories during the holiday season.” Along with two full-size trees, there is a small bed placed in one corner with a copy of A Christmas Carol peeking out from under the covers. What was so cozy to me was how intentionally rumpled the scene was. This wasn’t a tightly tucked-in display, but rather something more relaxed and lived in, complete with blocks strewn on the floor. So inviting!

The nearby Vermeil Room is where many first lady portraits hang, making it one of my favorites — I could linger in here all day. (SMT on these paintings…!). This year, the decorations represent “the joy of music and performance.” Along the back wall, there is a toy theater with three trumpeting soldiers from the United States Marine Band. But my eye was drawn to the garland over the fireplace to one side. Along with musical instruments, there are ballerinas twirling on music boxes beneath the portrait of First Lady Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson.

(My thanks to the White House for sharing this photograph.)

Midway through the reception, Matt and I had a chance to say hello to Dr. Jill Biden — such a treat! (We happened to be in coordinating holiday colors, too, which you know delighted me.)

The first lady was in the China Room, which is lined with display cases of tableware from presidential families. The decor here is on point, a bake shop filled with cakes, cookies, even a pink gingerbread house. The sweet scene is depicted as a work in progress, with a rolling pin on the counter, a stand mixer covered in batter, and a piping bag with frosting coming out. Again, details like these steer it from feeling pristine or precious, instead giving it a relaxed and human touch. Love.

From there, we floated our way up a set of stairs to the (suitably named) Grand Foyer. Once again, I found myself gazing up in wonder. The theme here is ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, complete with Santa’s sleigh and reindeer soaring high through the columns. Musicians from the military provided the holiday soundtrack throughout the reception — so festive!

PS: The doorway here, with the presidential seal over it, was a prime photo spot.

Three state parlors on this level are known by color: green, blue, red. We sipped champagne in each one, chatting with others at the reception (so fun to see some friendly faces!). I loved the trees in the Green Room and my cherry-hued outfit was all but made for the Red Room.

We spent the most time in the Blue Room, home to the official White House Christmas Tree. It is stunning! Talk about tree goals. Standing 18-and-a-half feet tall, the fraser fir from North Carolina is decorated with a nod to every state and territory. Around the base is a vintage train on loan from the Train Collectors Association. (This room also has a fabulous view of the Washington Monument.)

And finally, the East Room. It is the largest room in the White House, which makes it the ideal spot to host ceremonies, bill signings, and other notable occasions. It is filled with Christmas trees, lining the floor beneath the portraits of George and Martha Washington.

There is also an advent calendar throughout the room, with doors that actually open! You can spot a few in the White House replica, more in the towers near the presidential podium

When the reception was over, we were escorted out into the brisk winter evening. My cheeks hurt from smiling! What an incredible experience. It had been a bit of a scramble for Matt and I to come together but so very worth it.

As we begin the new year, I’m holding tight to this feeling. A reminder to seize the moment — and take the trip!