A Look Back at White House Christmases Through the Years

The Kennedy Years — 1961-1963

President John F. Kennedy hangs a homemade stocking in front of the White House fireplace in 1962.

The Kennedy Family

Jaqueline, 33, and JFK, 45, gather with family in 1962. From left to right: Caroline, 5; Gustavo Paredes; John Jr., 2; Anthony Radziwill, 3; Prince Stanislas Radziwill, 48; Lee Radziwill, 29; Anna Christina Radziwill, 2.

Caroline Kennedy

Caroline, 4, prances around the tree during the family's first White House Christmas in 1961.

A Kennedy Christmas Tree

Jacqueline started the tradition of decorating the White House Christmas tree according to a theme, choosing "Nutcracker Suite" in honor of the ballet for the family's first year in office.

The Johnson Years — 1963-1969

President Lyndon B. Johnson, 59, and Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson, 55 — plus their dog, Yuki — admire the tree in the Yellow Oval Room in 1967.

After the death of John F. Kennedy, the Johnsons opted for holiday décor that was comforting and nostalgic, but the First Lady added a touch of glitter to the tree that year with silver balls, silver stars and round mirrors.

The Nixon Years — 1969-1974

During a white Christmas at the White House in 1973, Pat Nixon, 61, and President Richard Nixon, 60, admire a stocky snowman on their lawn.

The Nixon Dogs

The First Lady instituted "Candlelight Tours" of the White House during the holidays for working-class families unable to visit during daytime hours, so they could see the grand trees like this one, in 1971.

The Ford Years — 1974-1977

Betty Ford, 56, poses with President Gerald Ford, 61, in front of the tree during their first Christmas at the White House in 1974.

A Homemade Christmas

The First Lady chose a patchwork theme that Christmas to emphasize frugality and simplicity during the recession, even suggesting Americans make all their ornaments to save money.

The Carter Years — 1977-1981

Rosalynn Carter (here at age 53 with grandchildren Sarah Carter, almost 2, and Jason Carter, 5) chose a Victorian theme for the tree in 1980, adorning it with dolls, hats, fans, tapestries and laces. The same year she threw one of the White House's largest Christmas parties, a huge event on the South Lawn featuring an entire ice-skating rink.

The Reagan Years — 1981-1989

President Ronald Reagan, 73, and Nancy Reagan, 63, play with their new puppy Lucky, a Bouvier des Flandres, in front of the tree in 1984.

Nancy Reagan and Mr. T

The First Lady invited Mr. T to dress as Santa at the children's party in 1983, and then famously sat on his lap and prentended to tell him what she wanted for Christmas.

The George H.W. Bush Years — 1989-1993

A champion of literacy, President George H.W. Bush, 67, reads to his grandchildren on Christmas Eve 1991.

Barbara Bush and Millie

First Lady Barbara Bush, 67, stands with the family's springer spaniel Millie next to the tree in 1992. The theme that year was "Gift-Givers," and White House florists created 88 gift-giving characters to decorate the branches.

The Clinton Years — 1993-2001

Photographed in the State Dining Room, President Bill Clinton, 47, and Hillary Clinton, 46, stand in front of the tree for their holiday greeting card in 1993, the same year they organized the first official menorah lighting at the White House for Hanukkah.

Hillary Clinton

First Lady Hillary Clinton holds up a pair of snowman ornaments for 1998's Christmas theme, "A Winter Wonderland."

The George W. Bush Years — 2001-2009

In 2001, the first Christmas after the Sept. 11 attacks, Laura Bush, 55, chose "Home for the Holidays" as the White House theme. Although she began preparations in March, she said, "Home just meant so much more to everyone ... after Sept. 11."

That year, the iconic gingerbread house — created by White House pastry chef Roland Mesnier — featured two angels, holding stars, on both sides of an American flag that sat on top of the replica of the presidential home.

Laura and George W. Bush

Laura Bush, 58, and George W. Bush, 58, pose in the Blue Room in front of the 2004 tree. The theme that year was "A Season of Merriment and Melody," and the room was filled with 350 instrument ornaments.

The Obama Years — 2009-2017

Michelle Obama, 45, came up with the theme "Reflect, Rejoice, Renew" in 2009, the first year she and President Barack Obama, 48, spent in the White House.

A Recycled Bo

Michelle had many original ideas during her years as First Lady, including building a replica of the family dog, Bo, out of plastic garbage bags in 2011.

Snowmen Friends or Foes?

In 2015, Michelle had the White House decorators set up 56 "snow people" to represent each of the United States' states and territories, and did it again in 2016.

Barack, though, was apparently not a fan, jokingly telling PEOPLE that he finds them "a little creepy."

"There's a whole kind of Chucky element to them," he said.

Once the White House staff learned of the President's aversion, they pranked him by moving one of the snowmen to peek into the Oval Office.

The Trump Years — 2017-2021

For President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump's first year at 1600 Pennsylvania, she chose a "Time-Honored Traditions" theme to "pay respect to 200 years of holiday traditions at the White House," a press release from her office said.

The decorations included an homage to the first themed White House Christmas — which was the "Nutcracker Suite" in 1961 — a Christmas dinner display featuring the china from President Ronald Reagan, and the official White House Christmas tree, adorned with glass ornaments depicting the seal of each State and territory.

Red Letter Day

The First Lady faced criticism in 2018 when she chose an all-red palette for a portion of the "American Treasures" themed decorations. But she stood by her distinct choice.

"We are in 21st Century and everybody has a different taste," she said at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, as seen in video obtained by Reuters.

"I think they look fantastic. I hope everybody will come over and visit it. In real life, they look even more beautiful. You are all welcome to visit the White House, the people's house," she said during her appearance as part of her Be Best initiative.

White House, White Décor

For 2019, Melania opted for a predominantly bright-and-white holiday theme.

The first lady tweeted a video showing her touring the seasonal decorations, including ornate gold-and-white trees, a garden's worth of white flowers and a mini replica of the White House itself, adorned with tiny wreaths.

In the clip showcasing the design, titled "The Spirit of America," Mrs. Trump walked through the decked-out halls, admiring the arrangements, which were put together by volunteers.

The Biden Years — 2021-Present

First Lady Jill Biden and a team of more than 100 volunteers decked the halls of the White House for the holidays with 41 Christmas trees and 25 wreaths, 6,000 feet of ribbon, more than 300 candles, 10,000 ornaments and 78,750 lights.

The decorations aligned with 2021's theme: "Gifts from the Heart."

"The things we hold sacred unite us and transcend distance, time, and even the constraints of a pandemic: faith, family, and friendship; a love of the arts, learning, and nature; gratitude, service, and community; unity and peace," the couple wrote in a commemorative visitors' guide. "These are the gifts that tie together the heart strings of our lives. These are the Gifts from the Heart."

The People's House

The 2022 decorations are themed "We the People," and feature 83,615 holiday lights, 77 Christmas trees, a gingerbread house bedecked in 40 lbs. of icing — and nods to the White House pets: the Bidens' German shepherd Commander and cat Willow.

A new addition to the White House collection this year is a menorah created by the Executive Residence Carpentry Shop using wood that was removed from the building during a Truman-era renovation in the 1950s.

Better Together

Each room of the White House is decorated in this year's theme, which the White House explains in a release is meant to symbolize "what brings us together during the holidays and throughout the year."

The East Wing Lobby, for instance, is bedecked with holiday greenery and red cardinals — meant to signify the presence of lost loves ones — lining its columns and beams.

Something Sweet

Among the other notable pieces of holiday décor is the annual gingerbread replica of the White House, made with 20 sheets of sugar cookie dough, 30 sheets of gingerbread dough, 100 lbs. of pastillage, 30 lbs. of chocolate, and 40 lbs. of royal icing.