The 2025 National Tree Lighting Ceremony took place last night, December 4. Held on the Ellipse just south of the White House, this year’s ceremony comprised the usual in the way of entertainment, remarks, and a slew of other onsite follies.
The main event was, of course, the official seasonal lighting of this year’s National Tree—a 35-foot red spruce from the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest in Virginia. A tradition dating back to 1923 under Calvin Coolidge, this year’s tree lighting marked the event’s 103rd year as an annual mainstay.
In addition to the National Tree Lighting, the White House has a storied past regarding the presence and incorporation of Christmas Trees, as well as other time-honored holiday traditions. For this Flashback Friday Feature, I’m providing a brief overview of what that history entails.
White House Christmas Traditions Past
As was the case for many early American holidays, the Christmas celebrations and festivities of long ago were lackluster in comparison to the grand affairs of today. Regarding holiday observances at the White House, such traditions were usually left up to the First Family during their immediate tenure.
Based on documented historical accounts, the first White House Christmas party was likely held in 1800. It was presented by President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams in honor of their four-year-old granddaughter Susanna Boylston Adams. The invitation was extended to include government officials and their children.
Because it was a personal “family thing,” President Andrew Jackson was known to hold festive frolics for his children and immediate household during his tenure. The event he hosted in 1835 was, up to that point, one of the most elaborate parties ever held at the White House, incorporating dancing, games, a formal dinner, and even an indoor snowball fight with cotton balls!
Again, each family carried out traditions accordingly. There were no preestablished, longstanding events or special occurrences at the White House before the 20th Century.
The Presence of a Tree
Not all families celebrated the season with an indoor Christmas Tree. So, for a time, it was only those First Families who kept the tradition of a Christmas Tree that brought one into the White House setting. The first known account of a Christmas Tree in the White House was in 1889 during the Benjamin Harrison administration. He had his Christmas Tree set on the Second Floor Oval Room, which at the time served as a parlor and library.
As electricity was installed in the White House by 1891, it is believed that the first electric lights to be placed on a Christmas Tree occurred during the presidency of Grover Cleveland.
There is a common belief that Theodore Roosevelt “banned” Christmas Trees at the White House during his presidency, owing to his conservation standards. This, however, cannot be confirmed. The reason for the absence of a Christmas Tree was likely because the family did not keep the tradition themselves. This changed, however, when in 1902, Roosevelt’s son Archie smuggled a small tree into the White House, hiding it in a closet until he had a chance to decorate it and present it to the family.
Branching Out
Once the popularity of Christmas Trees started to take shape throughout the United States, the White House began to display trees in various rooms. The tradition of a tree being placed in the Blue Room specifically began in 1912 with the Taft children—Robert, Charlie, and Helen.
It was First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, however, who made placing a tree in the Blue Room into a thing. Then, in 1961, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy started selecting an annual theme for the Blue Room Christmas Tree. Her first inaugural pick was the “Nutcracker Suite” ballet.
Since 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association has been holding a national competition to choose the official White House Blue Room tree. Growers looking to qualify must first win their state or regional competitions.
The first cranberry tree was displayed in the Red Room back in 1975. This was during the Gerald R. Ford administration.
Now it is the norm for any given administration to have multiple themed tree presentations throughout various rooms.
National Tree Lighting
The National Tree Lighting on the Ellipse has been held as an ongoing tradition since 1923. As previously mentioned, it began during the Calvin Coolidge administration. That first National Tree was a 48-foot Balsam Fir from Vermont, adorned by 2,500 red, white, and green electric bulbs.
Other Annual Holiday Traditions
The National Tree Lighting is a time-honored tradition. But it is not the only one that takes place at the White House annually. Since the 1960s and 70s, several others have been started as well. An 18th-century Neapolitan crèche has been displayed in the East Room of the White House since 1967, for instance.
Two years later, in 1969, a notable gingerbread tradition was baked into being when White House Assistant Executive Chef Hans Raffert created a traditional German A-frame gingerbread house for the Nixons’ first Christmas in the White House. Now, every year, pastry chefs go to work in creating an intricate gingerbread house presentation for the First Family and visitors alike.
A National Menorah has been displayed in the northeast quadrant of the Ellipse since 1979. It was first lit by the President and has been erected and lit every year since. This year’s lighting is set for December 14, 2025.
Every First Family continues to keep all now-set traditions that occur annually at the White House each year, although each administration has its own spin on the festivities. This year’s White House décor includes 75 wreaths, 2,000+ strands of lights, over 700 feet of garland, more than 25,000 feet of ribbon, 120 pounds of gingerbread, and 51 Christmas Trees.
For 2025, the Blue Room is adorned with 2,800 gold stars honoring military families who have lost someone. Every state bird and flower is displayed as well. Over 10,000 butterflies deck out the Red Room to celebrate youth and fostering. This year’s theme, designed by First Lady Melanie Trump, is “Home is Where the Heart Is.” It is a most befitting message that truly speaks to the heart and holiday comforts of home life in America.