History and the holidays: How the official White House ornaments came to be | Opinion
This year's ornament honors President Jimmy Carter, the only American president to live to 100 years old and, poignantly, the first to be living when the ornaments were released.
It’s amazing how much history you can hang on the branch of a tree.
In 1981, a new tradition of bridging holidays and history was started after first lady Nancy Reagan supported the idea of creating a unique ornament to decorate the White House that could also be displayed in homes across America. The White House Historical Association, founded by Jacqueline Kennedy to promote the history of the executive mansion, answered the call.
Since then, its yearly ornaments honoring American presidents and the White House have been a cherished tradition linking the spirit of the holidays with the story of our nation.
That first official ornament – depicting an angel in flight – captivated history buffs and the public, sparking a series that endures today.
2024 White House Christmas ornament honors Jimmy Carter
Most of the ornaments honor presidencies sequentially.
The George Washington ornament, issued in 1982, was a faithful miniature replica of the Dove of Peace weathervane that the first president commissioned for his home, Mount Vernon.
Some years the ornaments mark pivotal moments in White House history, such as the 1989 bicentennial celebration of the presidency, commemorated with a detailed miniature of the presidential seal.
This year’s ornament honors America’s 39th president, Jimmy Carter, the only American president to live to 100 years old and, poignantly, the first to be living when their ornament was released.
The official 2024 White House Christmas ornament, shaped like an anchor – a traditional symbol of hope – reflects Carter’s service in the Navy and the only president to have attended the U.S. Naval Academy. Doves and other intricate elements symbolize Carter’s peacemaking efforts and his legacy of human rights, conflict resolution and environment stewardship.
Significant moments in presidential and White House history are also showcased in the collection.
The 2000 ornament, which marks the bicentennial of the White House, is crafted with stone sourced from the same Virginia quarry that supplied materials for the building’s original construction.
The ornament honoring President John F. Kennedy features JFK’s official White House portrait and a quote from first lady Jacqueline Kennedy ‒ “The White House belongs to the American people” ‒ on the reverse.
Holiday ornaments give us a different perspective on US history
Even beyond the executive mansion itself, the ornaments represent broader narratives of American life during each presidency and of emerging technological revolutions of the time:
- The 2012 edition celebrates President William Howard Taft’s – and the nation’s – growing fondness for automobiles.
- The 2016 ornament honors President Herbert Hoover with a fire engine, recalling the 1929 Christmas Eve fire in the West Wing and the resilience of the White House to rebuild.
- And the 2019 design honoring President Dwight D. Eisenhower is a detailed representation of Marine One, recognizing him as the first sitting president to use a helicopter for official travel and acknowledging his embrace of technology and innovation.
Every ornament in the series is a collaborative work of art, created by the association and handcrafted since the beginning by a veteran-founded small business in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Over their 43-year evolution, the ornaments have transformed from two-dimensional shapes to complex and colorful three-dimensional pieces.
An innovative feature in the 2015 ornament includes LED lights that glow to honor President Calvin Coolidge’s first lighting of the National Christmas Tree in 1923 – another American holiday tradition.
The new ornaments are displayed every holiday season at the White House. Traditionally, the first lady ceremonially hangs the current ornament on a Christmas tree within the executive mansion, intertwining history, community and the spirit of the season.
The historical significance embedded in each year’s ornament reminds all that the White House is not just a building – it is the "People’s House," a symbol of shared heritage and aspirations. The White House Historical Association Christmas Ornament is more than a decoration; it is a tradition that brings history to life, one president and one milestone at a time.
Stewart D. McLaurin is president of the White House Historical Association and director of The People’s House: A White House Experience. Information on how to get this year’s ornament is at whitehousehistory.org/2024