# White House Christmas Decorations 2021 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 29, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-christmas-decorations-2021/955146 "2021-11-29T18:16:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-christmas-decorations-2021/955146/1 "2021-11-29T18:16:29Z")
[https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/29/politics/white-house-holiday-decorations/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/29/politics/white-house-holiday-decorations/index.html) > … > East Wing communications director Elizabeth Alexander told CNN[the idea for Biden’s theme was to showcase](https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/11/29/jill-biden-christmas-decorations-theme-vpx-newday.cnn)“things that unite and heal, and bring us together.” > … > > In the State Dining Room, two large trees were decorated with framed photographs of former first families at the White House during the holidays, and several images from the Biden’s private archive that have never before been seen publicly. > … > > There were photos from previous administrations, pulled from the White House archives: the Kennedys, the Clintons, the Johnsons, the Reagans – tucked on the **backside** of one of the trees was one small, framed photograph of Donald and Melania Trump. > … My bold. Had to laugh at the word “backside.” CNN, you naughty scamp! > … > A statement from the East Wing says the first lady was “inspired by small acts of kindness and experiences that lifted our spirits this year and throughout the pandemic.” > … “Acts of kindness,” “lifted our spirits”? At Christmas? What kind of wimpy, librul, BS is this? Where are the black Christmas trees and gothic, Nightmare Before Christmas themes?? Melania’s White House is a place where my mother’s warped carol would have fit right in: > 🎼 Children roasting on an open fire, > 🎵 Jack Frost nipping at their toes… ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-christmas-decorations-2021/955146/2 "2021-11-29T18:25:42Z")
Glad to see Dr. Biden returning to tradition. I love to watch the special on decorating the White House. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-christmas-decorations-2021/955146/3 "2021-11-29T18:36:12Z")
I would be thankful for the small kindness of editors. I presume this is not true as written: > The fireplace in the State Dining Room features six stockings for each Biden grandchild, knitted by the same Delaware artisan as the actual Biden family stockings. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-christmas-decorations-2021/955146/4 "2021-11-29T18:55:02Z")
What’s the problem with that? ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-christmas-decorations-2021/955146/5 "2021-11-29T18:58:15Z")
Six for **each** grandchild? Not “six, one for each”? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-christmas-decorations-2021/955146/6 "2021-11-29T19:14:01Z")
My opinion: who cares? But yeah, it’s probably an editing error. Give it a a sec and the Republicans will likely jump all over it like you did. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-christmas-decorations-2021/955146/7 "2021-11-29T19:17:52Z")
It’s a big place, if you limit it to one per child you won’t have enough to properly decorate! (Yeah, bad editing.) It looks shockingly classy. I guess I’m just not used to that anymore, but I like it. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-christmas-decorations-2021/955146/8 "2021-11-29T19:54:53Z")
I just have an inner editor. It bugs me when a mistake changes the meaning. I didn’t mean to jump all over it. I was more amused by the idea. But, I apologize for focusing on a minor nitpick of the writing. I do like the decorations and the message that Dr. Biden chose, and I think they’re well-executed. I really like the gingerbread White House, and the addition of the frontline workers’ buildings. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-christmas-decorations-2021/955146/9 "2021-11-29T20:06:56Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > Six for **each** grandchild? Not “six, one for each”? There’s a famous work that makes the same mistake, and it kinda jumps out at me. I do realize that it’s quite nitpicky. Spoilered, in case anyone doesn’t want to notice it. _The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald_ ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-christmas-decorations-2021/955146/10 "2021-11-29T20:20:33Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > I just have an inner editor. Hehe. Me, too. When nuns have made you diagram sentences, the effects are permanent. In fact, the only time I use Twitter is to tweet grammatical corrections to the author of an article. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-christmas-decorations-2021/955146/11 "2021-11-29T20:20:37Z")
Poetic license, then. Back to the OP: Bah! Humbug! ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-christmas-decorations-2021/955146/12 "2021-11-29T20:36:32Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Back to the OP: Bah! Humbug! Thank you for that. Imagine, if you will, a future where the chief executive of the United States allows Christmas (and any other holiday except perhaps Independence Day, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day) pass without notice. What harm comes from that? Call me crazy, but I don’t want “god” on my money, or Christmas in government buildings. If the family wants a small display in their living quarters, I’m fine with that. Personally, we are now three years into our new era of no tree, no lights, and very minimal gift giving. I highly recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-christmas-decorations-2021/955146/13 "2021-11-29T20:48:54Z")
And no more war on gay apparel. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-christmas-decorations-2021/955146/14 "2021-11-29T20:50:25Z")
Meh, if other people enjoy it, I’m not annoyed. You do make a good point, though. On the other hand, it is her house. I bet she had some nifty Halloween decorations, too. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-christmas-decorations-2021/955146/15 "2021-11-29T22:02:05Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > On the other hand, it is her house No, not hers nor theirs. The residents of the White House are temporary tenants of what is, in many senses, a museum combined with government offices. The building belongs, in effect, to the people of the US, and the parts of the building being discussed are the public parts. The majority of which public probably expects it to be decorated for a religious holiday in spite of the constitution. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2021, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-christmas-decorations-2021/955146/16 "2021-11-30T12:44:14Z")
For those who are into details (like me), here’s a longer article about the decorations. > **[Jill Biden’s first White House Christmas brings back a warmer, simpler vibe](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/11/29/white-house-decorations/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWJpZCI6IjYyMDc3NTgiLCJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNjM4Mjc2MTQ4LCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNjM5NDg1NzQ4LCJpYXQiOjE2MzgyNzYxNDgsImp0aSI6ImQ3MTU3MzA4LTc1OTMtNDVmZC04NDg1LTJlMTAyODljNDI1YyIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9saWZlc3R5bGUvMjAyMS8xMS8yOS93aGl0ZS1ob3VzZS1kZWNvcmF0aW9ucy8ifQ.gcYlscUmn7DJQHtskxhPQyLxp23uyZJ4F_Z3UaM9tEg&itid=gfta)** > > Biden, who has been working on the decorations since late May, is a fan of color and of orchids. Stocking issue clarified: > Hanging from the mantel under Abraham Lincoln’s portrait are knit red-and-white-striped stockings with the Biden grandchildren’s names in green yarn: Naomi, Finnegan, Maisy, Natalie, Hunter, and Baby Beau. Biden ordered them from the same person who made the ones she has in her own home.