Christmas time is quickly approaching, with all the lights and Christmas cheer awaiting us all. Washington DC has beauty awaiting you if you are planning a visit to the capitol. You may be wondering how the celebration of Christmas became a large event at the White House throughout history. In this article we will go back in time to when it all began and the sprit just kept growing through the years. According to later accounts, the first White House Christmas party was held in December 1800. President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams held it for their four-year-old granddaughter Susanna Boylston Adams, who was living with them. They invited government officials and their children to the party. The first known president to place a tree in White House was Benjamin Harrison. The tradition of a placing a decorated tree in the White House began in 1889 on Christmas morning during his presidency. Interestingly enough not every president in history has been too eager to have a tree in the White House, history tells us that President Theodore Roosevelt had a bad rap. We learned that way back in the 1900s, he banned Christmas trees from the White House. We do not know why he mad this choice, but all other Presidents have welcomed Christmas to the White House.
According to Wikipedia It is verifiable that there was no Christmas tree in the White House in 1902, 1904, 1907, and 1922. The lack of a tree in 1902 was due to the fact that President Theodore Roosevelt had not ordered one by December 23. The first White House Christmas tree, pre-electricity, was decorated with candles and toys and placed in President Benjamin Harrison’s living quarters. President Benjamin Harrison was the first to stand a Christmas tree decorated with ornaments and candles inside the White House for family and friends to enjoy in 1889. The ritual became an annual tradition in 1929 when first lady Lou Henry Hoover decorated her indoor tree. Theodore Roosevelt’s commitment to conservation is well known. Less well known was the 26th president’s ill-fated attempt to ban Christmas trees at the White House. Why? So many trees were cut down for the holidays, he believed, that it was contributing to deforestation—and he wanted to set an example for the country. Which is a powerful stance and a much needed point to make to the nation.