White House channels ‘Peace and Light’ for 2024 Holiday decorations
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - A sense of comfort and joy wash over you as you step into the magic of Christmas at the White House.
This year’s theme is a ‘Season of Peace and Light.’
Designer Beth Kingston helped bring the vision to life.
“Obviously, the theme this year, the season of peace and Light and what a better representation than the dove,” said Kingston. “Those are all paper. So and the way they had to hand hang them. It took days and days and days and to see it come together, you know, first we saw them as pieces on the floor. Then we saw them on hooks and now we see them up in the air.”
The White House library is adorned with dozens of Christmas trees, creating a cozy corner to delve into a story the night before Christmas.
Librarian Julia Reynolds explains that for the first time, these shelves have children’s books.
“To see that our White House values children’s literacy really shows that they’re thinking about the future of our communities and our country,” said Reynolds.
Down the hall in the China room, a bistro greets visitors.
Dr. Jill Biden says A baker’s bench and artisanal breads set the scene in this room, reminding guests of the peaceful, patient, and loving process of baking bread.
Up the stairs, to the East room, a ceiling of snow, with statement trees underneath.
83 trees in total are apart of this Christmas scape, lit up with over 165 thousand holiday lights.
The 28 thousand ornaments are also a feast for the eyes. Teacher of the year Lorynn Guerrero says each one has its own story.
“A lot of the students throughout the country, they were asked to create self-portraits. And so when you look on the tree, you will see high school students. We see elementary and middle school students throughout the United States. It’s important because education is a pathway to unlimited opportunities when you come in, you’re not really sure what to expect,” said Guerrero.
And finally, the piece de resistance - the massive 180 pound ginger bread White House replica. This architectural conceptual beauty took nearly three months to complete, with no detail spared.
“You have to look closely and we included some of the doves that you see hanging beautifully here in the grand foyer,” said Pastry Chef Susan Morrison.
The White House expects nearly 100 thousand visitors this season - and hope everyone takes with them a little Christmas cheer.
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