More than 50 Christmas trees, a good 200 meters of garlands and almost 55 kilograms of gingerbread: First Lady Melania Trump has had the White House festively decorated for the coming holidays. The theme of this year’s Christmas is “Home is where the heart is,” said US President Donald Trump’s wife on X.
The fact that Melania Trump has so many trees put up is nothing new. According to media reports, the First Lady had already ordered dozens to the White House during Trump’s first term in office. At Christmas 2020 there were said to be a good 60 pieces. The former first lady and wife of ex-President Joe Biden, Jill Biden, reportedly even decorated the White House with more than 80 trees last year.
The tradition of giving the festive decorations a theme dates back to Jackie Kennedy, according to the White House Historical Association. While trees and wreaths had been presented to the public as decoration for decades before, in 1961 they announced a special highlight for the first time with decorations based on Peter Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”. (sda/dpa)