Christmas Tree Arrives at the White House in Annual Tradition
Only a day after most Americans celebrated a day of thanks by eating turkeys and pumpkin pie with their families, the White House has officially kick off into the spirit of the holiday season with the arrival of a Christmas tree.
The decades old tradition of a Christmas tree arriving to the White House the day after Thanksgiving was continued this year by the first family.
The tree, which hails from the woods of Wisconsin, has come to adorn the Blue Room of the residence of Michelle and Barack Obama, their daughters Malia and Sasha, and Bo, the family dog.
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The tree, which came from Schroeder’s Forevergreens and took 20 years to grow, was delivered to the doorstep of the White House by horse and carriage at 11:09 a.m. on Friday.
The first lady, her two daughters, and Bo came out to witness the arrival of the stunning 18.5-foot balsam fir tree.
The large tree arrived loaded on a green wagon while the U.S. Marine Band played the German carol “O Tannenbaum,” also referred to as “O Christmas Tree.”
Over the next few days volunteers and White House staffers will be collaborating to deck the halls of the White House with holiday decorations that will be reveled on Wednesday.
The Christmas tree will be the centerpiece of the oval-shaped Blue Room that will feature the elaborate White House decorations in honor of Blue Star military families.
Blue Star families are those that have a family member severing in the military during a period of war.
The first lady will be giving military families the first opportunity to view the decorations during a special gathering on Nov. 30 that will honor military families and unveil the decorations.
The tree will be viewed by thousands of White House visitors this holiday season.
Last year the White House hosted around 20 holiday parties with some 12,000 guests. This year the White House party schedule has yet to be released.
