White House Gets into the Holiday Spirit by Welcoming Festivities with the 2020 Christmas Tree

The spirit of Christmas has finally arrived at the White House! This week, the First Lady shared a short clip of the holiday season’s Christmas tree arriving at the presidential house to start off the festivities.

On November 23, 2020, First Lady Melania Trump, 50, welcomed the White House’s annual Christmas tree. The 18-foot Fraser fir was delivered by a pair of Clydesdale horses at noon.

The occasion was a special one with a military band dressed up to play carols outside the residence. Melania received the Christmas tree without her husband, President Donald Trump.

In a short Twitter video post, she shared snippets of herself looking the tree over and posing for photos with it. A clip of the tree being hauled inside was also included, showing the other smaller trees that have already adorned the White House.

The Christmas tree was anchored in the place where it will stand throughout the holiday season. For the occasion, Melania kept warm in a black-and-white checked coat, black gloves, and black high-heeled boots.

According to a pool report, the first lady spoke briefly to the owners of the tree farm. The event was attended by several onlookers which she wished a "Merry Christmas" before returning inside.

In the caption of her post, Melania shared how the arrival of the tree brought the White House a “spirit of holiday warmth & tradition.” She also noted how the tree would continue to bring joy to those who will pass through the presidential house.

The Christmas tree was grown at a West Virginia farm. It will stand tall in the White House's Blue Room before the first lady decorates it as part of one of her duties in the presidential house.

Previously, Melania’s spokeswoman told “People” magazine that the first lady was actually looking forward to opening the White House for Christmas. The spokeswoman confirmed, earlier in the year, that the holiday decorations at the White House would be showcased in December 2020.

Last December, on the first, Melania showed off her handy decorating work for the holiday season. She revealed at the time that the décor was inspired by “The Spirit of America,” for the year's patriotic theme.

In a one-minute-long clip, the first lady walked through the White House’s public floor to show off the decorations. Among the adornments were Christmas trees with white lights, fake snow that was sprinkled on a tree, roses sitting on a fireplace, and a miniature wreath on the traditional gingerbread White House in the State Dining Room.

The annual extravagant tradition of decorating the White House for the holiday season wasn’t always what it is today. For most of the 19th century, the residence was decorated with simple wreaths, garlands, and ornaments.

In 1889, the first Christmas tree was put up by President Benjamin Harrison. At the time, the tree was decorated with candles, toys, and ornaments which were meant to delight his grandchildren, however, during Cleveland's presidency was when the first Christmas lights appeared in 1894.