White House Decorated for Holidays

By: Sergey Kadinsky
Topics: White House

(CBS / Mark Knoller)

The White House has announced its 2009 holiday theme: "Reflect, rejoice, and renew."

The earth-friendly theme means the use of recycled ornaments, natural materials and energy-saving lighting for their 18.5-foot Douglas fir Christmas tree. The tree, which stands in the Blue Room, was purchased from a farm in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, the Washington Post reports.

Among the decorations are a gingerbread model of the White House (pictured below) - which includes Bo, the family dog, standing guard out front - and First Lady Michelle Obama's vegetable garden. The tree is festooned with golden ribbons, red bulbs and smaller white lights. Some of the ornaments were used by Mr. Obama's predecessors.

Click here to see more photos of this year's White House holiday decorations.

(CBS / Mark Knoller)

The tree is part of a much larger celebration which will kick off at 5 p.m. tomorrow with the lighting of the National Christmas Tree on the ellipse, south of the White House. Performers at the event include Sheryl Crow, Common, and Jordin Sparks.

Obama supporter Oprah Winfrey will also be present, and will conduct an interview with the president for her upcoming "Christmas at the White House: An Oprah Primetime Special."

(CBS / Mark Knoller)

More than 50,000 people are expected to attend 28 holiday parties and open houses at the White House, according to the Associated Press.

Mrs. Obama offered thanks Wednesday to some of the volunteers who helped decorate the White House, reports CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller.

She also announced the White House will take part this year in the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program and the Feed A Neighbor Program.

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by youcancallmeroy January 6, 2010 1:07 PM EST: Christian faith leaders stunned by reports that President Obama would have an ornament of the image of Mao Zedong hanging on the White House Christmas tree
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Christian Defense Coalition and Generation Life are outraged that an ornament of a man who crushed human and religious rights, trampled on freedom and oversaw the deaths of 50,000,000 of his own people would be honored by a display
on the White House Christmas tree during this holy season. Mao Zedong was a human slug and he's invited into this White House to peer out from a Christmas tree. Oh come all ye Marxist faithful. Barack Obama appointed Ron Bloom, "Manufacturing Czar" who cites Chairman Mao as a political guide. Anita Dunn, White House Communications Director, who stated in an address to high school students this past June that Chairman Mao Tse-tung was one of the two "philosophers" she most often
turns to. it.. It is strange that the White House okayed the lighting of New York?s Empire State Building in red honoring China?s 60 years under ?communist? rule starting with Mao Zedong in 1949. President Obama has shown a profound disrespect for Christianity and the message of the
Christ-child which was heard so loudly on Christmas morning; "Peace on earth, goodwill toward man." Many organizations are calling for the ornament to be removed and an apology to be issued by the White House to all people of faith, Christians and the Chinese people, many of whom are still in prison because of Mao's policies. This episode is especially troubling in light of the fact that President Obama covered up a white cross at Georgetown University and a symbol for the name of Jesus. It
now appears the President is continuing his disrespect and lack of sensitivity toward symbols and traditions of the Christian faith by insulting the birth of Christ with an image of brutal dictator on the
White House Christmas tree.
The faith organizations wonder what next years' ornaments might look like? Perhaps a tribute to Joseph Stalin ?
One wonders what is next from this Administration and why this news story is not being covered by the news agencies of CBS, NBS, ABC, and MSNBS? Simply put, the gov't run media leaves the majority of television viewers wanting ALL the news, not just the fluff pieces about our Administration.; Reply to this comment


by justdatrooth December 3, 2009 1:06 AM EST: It might make sense if Obama was a Christian, but he's not. This is a complete waste of money.

Besides, who the heck needs an 18 ft tree? I guess it's cheaper than Obama's $250k dates to NY with Michelle.; Reply to this comment


by leigh2001 December 2, 2009 10:21 PM EST: As a volunteer who decorated the white house this year the experience was wonderful! Such a treasure to decorate. Kim Merlin and Simon Doonan truly had a eye for design and made this years decorations truly fabulous.; Reply to this comment


by ajvw December 2, 2009 3:56 PM EST: "The earth-friendly theme means the use of recycled ornaments, natural materials and energy-saving lighting for their 18.5-foot Douglas fir Christmas tree."

Call the ACLU. They can't have a Christmas tree, it must be a holiday tree. How can the chosen one be so politically incorrect?; Reply to this comment