First Lady Jill Biden unveiled this year’s White House holiday decorations on Monday, aiming to infuse the season with “Magic, Wonder and Joy,” the theme for 2023.
“The 2023 White House holiday theme is inspired by how children experience this festive season: completely present in the beauty and bounty around them, their senses alight, with hearts open to the magic, wonder, and joy of the holidays,” President Biden and the First Lady wrote in a welcome letter introducing the 2023 commemorative White House gift guide.
“In this season of reflection and goodwill, we hope you will embrace your inner child and delight in simply being present with those you love.”
The rooms and design elements throughout the display are set up to inspire visitors “to embrace their inner child” and “indulge their senses” as they delight in the magic of the season.
“Each room is designed to capture this pure, unfiltered delight and imagination” enabling visitors to “see this time of year through the wondrous, sparkling eyes of children,” the First Lady said Monday at the inaugural holiday reception, the first of many over the next month.
The Grand Foyer is sparkling with Christmas trees and villages as reindeer fly overhead, the White House Library is set up for bedtime stories and the China room is a sweet shop.
Throughout the two floors of decorations are homages to “The Night Before Christmas,” which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. The hallway connecting the East Wing with the residential area is adorned with candy-themes ornaments.
First to view the extravaganza were National Guard families. They also got to see a special performance of “Frozen” by the cast currently touring North America. About 100,000 visitors are expected to pass through this holiday season, according to White House estimates.
One of the first Christmas trees to greet arriving visitors is hung with wooden gold star ornaments engraved with the names of fallen service members.
With News Wire Services