Incredible photos show how the White House has celebrated Christmas through the years
The White House halls have been decked for the holidays every December since John and Abigail Adams held the first White House Christmas party in 1800.
Every president has brought their own traditions into the White House. Grover Cleveland, for example, lit up the first Christmas tree inside the White House to the delight of his young daughters.
Source: WhiteHouseHistory.org
Calvin Coolidge was the first president to instate a public Christmas celebration at the White House, with the first National Christmas Tree lighting in 1923.
Source: WhiteHouseHistory.org
The tree lighting ceremony and the president's participation has been a yearly tradition since then.
Source: WhiteHouseHistory.org
Franklin Roosevelt spent ten consecutive Christmas holidays in the White House and emphasized the importance of family during the holiday season.
Source: WhiteHouseHistory.org
FDR invited four generations of family into the White House for Christmas. His children and grandchildren enjoyed spending Christmas Eve in the presidential residence to partake in two of Roosevelt's favorite holiday traditions: Hanging stockings and reading, "A Christmas Carol."
Source: WhiteHouseHistory.org
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy took White House Christmas decorating to a new level when she started selecting holiday themes. In 1962, the White House Christmas tree was decorated with ornaments inspired by children, including candy canes and gingerbread cookies.
Source: WhiteHouseHistory.org
Despite Jackie's decorating efforts, the Kennedy family chose to celebrate Christmas Day in Palm Beach.
Source: JFK Library
Lyndon B. Johnson and his family stayed in D.C. for the holidays in 1968.
Here, the Johnson family poses in front of a Christmas tree in the Yellow Oval Room.
Source: LBJ Library
Christmas in the Nixon White House was a lively affair. First Lady Pat Nixon told 'Empire Magazine' their holiday traditions included the president playing 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer' on the piano for friends and family.
Source: Nixon Library
Another Nixon tradition was to decorate their Christmas trees with decorations made by disabled workers. The 1969 tree, dubbed the "American Flower Tree," was decorated with velvet and satin ornaments featuring each state's flower.
Source: WhiteHouseHistory.org
Gerald Ford brought two dates to the White House Christmas ball in 1975: his wife Betty and his daughter Susan.
Source: FordLibraryMuseum.gov
Many presidents have included their children and grandchildren in public White House traditions while in office. Jimmy Carter's daughter, Amy, helped him light his first National Christmas Tree in 1977.
Source: AP
The Reagans really got into the holiday spirit when they lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Ronald Reagan dressed up as Santa Claus for a Christmas Eve party in 1983...
The Reagans also commissioned artists to paint scenes from inside the Executive Mansion during the holiday season for their annual Christmas card. Many presidents, including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and both George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush, have since followed suit.
Source: Front Gate
Christmas during the first Bush administration was a family affair. Here, George H.W. Bush shows his grandchildren the Oval Office Christmas tree.
Source: CBS News
George Bush Sr. celebrated all four of his Christmas' as president at Camp David, plus eight more holidays while his son was president.
Source: Washington Times
The Clinton White House was adorned with plenty of edible decorations. Over the course of several years, the Clinton's enjoyed gingerbread house versions of the Washington Monument, Mount Vernon and even a replica of Hillary's childhood home.
Source: WhiteHouseHistory.org
George W. and Laura Bush celebrated a patriotic themed Christmas in 2008 to commemorate their final Christmas in the White House and the election year.
Source: WhiteHouseHistory.org
The Bush's "Red, White and Blue Christmas" theme was inspired by letters the president and first lady received after September 11th.
Source: WhiteHouseHistory.org
The Obamas celebrated friends, family and the freedoms enjoyed by Americans with their 'simple gifts' White House theme.
Barack Obama got really into the National Christmas Tree lighting in 2014. The president joined celebrities and Santa Claus on stage for a festive dance.
Source: ABC News
The official Christmas theme this year in the Trump White House is "Time-Honored Traditions," meant to celebrate 200 years of of White House holidays.
Source: Business Insider
We want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year," Trump said at the National Tree Lighting this year. "Have unbelievable holidays."
Source: Washington Post
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