@Pics - White house Chirstmas decorations

[neverfstop]

Have some joy! 

www.axios.com/2023/11/27/white-house-christmas-decorations-2023


This year's theme: "Magic, Wonder and Joy," which the first lady said was inspired by how children experience the season.



Details: Many of the decorations were candy-inspired, and some of the ornaments were made by children. Letters to Santa and to President Biden from kids across the country were also on display.

[seeyalater52]

Can the thread title get an @ please considering the post content?

[neverfstop]

Sorry seeyalater52, I've added it

[penguingrrl]

That was really lovely!

[lo]

This made me think of Melania’s Christmas hellscape from a few years ago, lol. This is pretty cute.

[basilosaurus]

Nov 27, 2023 21:25:38 GMT -5 lo said:

This made me think of Melanie’s Christmas hellscape from a few years ago, lol. This is pretty cute.

that will never not be horrifying. It's also the first thing I thought. The trump's just can't stop outdoing each other with his to be worst at everything.

This is so light and fun. It reminds me of small world after a renovation that made it very confectionary pastel

[wawa]

this is adorable. I love that they went so light hearted with it.

[picksthemusic]

Very cool!

[simpsongal]

@ OMG, my kids would love the ice cream sweet hallway and the china room!

[BlondeSpiders]

OMG, I love this so much; it's melting my cold, dead heart.

I love how fun and whimsical it is; so different in tone from the blood red trees a few years back. Is it classy and elegant? Probably not, but that's ok. There's room for fun in the White House.

[jinkies]

I like it a lot!

As a certified Grinch, I will say that Melania's annoyance at being forced to be in charge of Christmas decorations is pretty much the only time I found her relatable.

[basilosaurus]

Nov 28, 2023 13:17:07 GMT -5 BlondeSpiders said:

OMG, I love this so much; it's melting my cold, dead heart.

I love how fun and whimsical it is; so different in tone from the blood red trees a few years back. Is it classy and elegant? Probably not, but that's ok. There's room for fun in the White House.

He's got a bunch of grandkids it seems he truly enjoys. I wouldn't be surprised if that was influential in this design direction. And, I like it. Christmas magic is so much about the kids, why not reflect that in the people's house?

[lilac05]

This looks like the home of people who care about others. They have decorated it to bring others joy, and it shows. The pictures make me smile. It has so much personality!

It’s the Cool Grandma’s house! Over the top and fun!

[AdaraMarie]

Made me smile.

[basilosaurus]

Nov 28, 2023 15:39:11 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

This looks like the home of people who care about others. They have decorated it to bring others joy, and it shows. The pictures make me smile. It has so much personality!

It’s the Cool Grandma’s house! Over the top and fun!

yes! It's something my gramma would have done, and my dad's wife, who married when we were 10 and 8, would have rejected for not matching some vision or theme.

Just have fun!

[pixy0stix]

I don't like it. I'm trying to remember white house Xmas decorations that I did like. Maybe the Obama's?

[mrsukyankee]

It's not to my taste but I can appreciate why it's been done how it's been done. I still like it better than the previous occupant's design.

[Vespasia]

Nov 27, 2023 21:25:38 GMT -5 lo said:

This made me think of Melania’s Christmas hellscape from a few years ago, lol. This is pretty cute.

I follow the Slovenian travel page on Instagram and they've been posting pictures of Christmas decorations throughout the country. Not a single blood tree in sight! I guess she came up with those on her own.

[Deleted]

It’s cute. Not how I would decorate, but I can appreciate the theme.

There are right-wing rumblings about the decision to not hang stockings this year. I guess last year they hung stocking for all of the grandkids except one, the granddaughter the R’s say the Biden’s “won’t acknowledge” even though they have acknowledged her.

I have lots of questions about decorating the White House for Christmas. I mean, it’s a Federal building, so why is it being decorated at all? Who pays for the decorations? Isn’t it wasteful and expensive to use all these decorations for just one year?

[lilac05]

Nov 29, 2023 7:13:33 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

It's not to my taste but I can appreciate why it's been done how it's been done. I still like it better than the previous occupant's design.

This is where I end up. It’s not my style, but it still makes me smile. I always love when people lean in to what they envision. Sometimes I take things too seriously, and these decorations definitely aren’t that!

If I remember correctly, I loved them when Michelle Obama was there.

[wawa]

Nov 29, 2023 7:40:53 GMT -5 @villainv said:

It’s cute. Not how I would decorate, but I can appreciate the theme.

There are right-wing rumblings about the decision to not hang stockings this year. I guess last year they hung stocking for all of the grandkids except one, the granddaughter the R’s say the Biden’s “won’t acknowledge” even though they have acknowledged her.

I have lots of questions about decorating the White House for Christmas. I mean, it’s a Federal building, so why is it being decorated at all? Who pays for the decorations? Isn’t it wasteful and expensive to use all these decorations for just one year?

Thanks for today's google rabbit hole...

Decorations in federal buildings - www.justice.gov/olc/file/1355846/download

The Public Buildings Service of the General Services Administration may, consistent with
fiscal law and the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, broaden its policy governing the purchase and display of seasonal decorations in the public spaces of federal
properties to allow for the display of religiously significant seasonal decorations that
are reasonably calculated to improve employee morale.

cost and wastefulness (from a piece published during trumps administration):
apparently it's a line item in the NPS or the White House Historical Association budget (found conflicting sources there), most of the work is done by volunteers and there's a pparently a warehouse with reusable stuff stored. Picture your attic bin full of twinkly lights x100....*shudders*

abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-big-white-house-christmas-pays/story?id=51893455

As for the yards of garland, ribbon and bows and other decorations, current and former White House aides said many pieces are reused.

“There’s a warehouse that has all the White House Christmas decorations from all the years, so what we’d do is we go in there and use those, and those are already bought and paid for,” said Deesha Dyer, who served as the social secretary during the Obamas’ final two Christmases at the White House.

The National Park Service said it has helped purchase the 53 trees dotting the inside of the White House — similar to the number it acquired in other years.

[underwaterrhymes]

I love it.

[redheadbaker]

If you need me, I'll be in the China room until they forcibly remove me. LOL

[neverfstop]

I think they are fun & light....it's something different & I appreciate that.

Sharon Says so has a few cool historical photos in her stories today of the WH trees over the years with various presidents/families
www.instagram.com/sharonsaysso

[wawa]

Nov 29, 2023 12:21:12 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

If you need me, I'll be in the China room until they forcibly remove me. LOL

isn't that what your house looks like?  cakes and sugar and mixers everywhere?

[wawa]

Prior years: www.whitehousehistory.org/galleries/christmas-themes

www.forbes.com/pictures/6564a119b0b7ab01664a44e8/1701093662657/?sh=6784f48f7e87

[wawa]

One more. www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/g13978271/white-house-christmas-decorations/

Which includes this absolute gem of Mr. T as santa posing with Nancy Reagan.



eta: and this one!  Hills you looked so GOOD!  (90s good, but good)

[TR]

Apparently the nursery where we get our tree each year sources their trees from the same grower that supplied the WH Christmas tree (trees?) this year. No less than 3 employees told us that when we got ours lol. They are very proud.

[redheadbaker]

Nov 29, 2023 13:56:40 GMT -5 wawa said:

Nov 29, 2023 12:21:12 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

If you need me, I'll be in the China room until they forcibly remove me. LOL

isn't that what your house looks like?  cakes and sugar and mixers everywhere?

LOL