After an election year filled with rancor and ultimately, voters’ rejection of the Biden administration, the White House is calling for a “Season of Peace and Light” with this year’s holiday theme.
“At the holidays, Americans come together every year in fellowship and faith, reminding us that we are stronger as a community than we are apart,” President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden wrote at the end of the holiday guidebook. “The strength of our country, and the soul of our Nation, come from you. May the promise of this ‘Season of Peace and Light’ guide your path forward.”
This year’s decorations, unveiled Monday morning in a media preview, largely stick with the tried-and-true, both in terms of aesthetics and messaging. The East Colonnade, the long hallway that welcomes visitors and sets the tone, is an homage to classic Noel baubles. It features arches of garland wrapped with sleigh bells and red ribbons holding brass-colored bells suspended from the ceiling, culminating in a present-filled red sleigh drawn by a stuffed horse.
White paper doves in the Red Room convey messages of peace. For the trees in the State Dining Room, families of those serving on U.S. Navy vessels provided colorful garland, and students from across the country created charming self-portraits that serve as ornaments. The China Room is an ode to baking bread, with a bountiful presentation of artisanal loaves — even the wreaths in this room are made of braided bread. The Library has a delightful assortment of vintage ceramic trees.
Among the most vivid offerings is the annual White House Christmas tree, which has been turned into an old-school carousel, with carnival music playing in the Blue Room to match. The 18½-foot Fraser fir from Newland, North Carolina, has a large red-and-white striped base that covers the bottom of the tree entirely. Red ribbons strung from the top to the bottom resemble a circus big-top tent. Huge stuffed animals that move up and down circle the tree like real merry-go-round figurines. The effect is playful, though the tree itself takes a back seat in a discordant note. A Season of Peace and Light? Nothing feels particularly peaceful in this room, though there’s a bevy of lights.
The East Room, the largest in the house and the scene of bill signings, receptions and other key events, is more in tune with the broader theme. A sparkling canopy on the ceiling and windows resembles a particularly photogenic snowfall, and white and silver ornaments adorn the trees.
