President Obama Delivers Remarks at the Lighting of National Christmas Tree

First Lady Michelle Obama Hosts a Preview of the 2015 Holiday Decor at the White House

Each year, guests from across our country and around the world travel to our nation's capital to rejoice in the holidays. 

Highlights for this year's holiday décor 

Honoring our Troops

This year’s White House decorations also pay tribute to our Armed Forces and their families.

The East Wing of the White House features a Christmas tree adorned with gold star ornaments, honoring the heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The East Landing is also on this landing where we honor the brave individuals currently serving; visitors are invited to pause and send a message of thanks to our troops serving overseas and stateside.

In the Blue Room, an grand oval room overlooking the South Lawn and Washington Monument, is the official White House Christmas tree. This year's tree is a Fraser fir from Bustard's Christmas Tree Farm in Lehighton, Pennsylvania — standing 18 feet 1 inch tall from trunk to tip. Dedicated to our nation's service members, veterans, and their families, it is ornamented with holiday messages of hope for our troops and patriotic symbols of red, white, and blue.

Send a digital message of gratitude to our active duty service men and women. The USO will share your message with our heroes through their centers around the world where our uniformed men and women are currently deployed. Send a message now.

For more information on supporting our service members, veterans, and their families, please visit www.JoiningForces.gov. To engage online, please use #JoiningForces.

Recognition for each state and territory

From the redwoods of California to the plains of Oklahoma, the lakes of Minnesota to the everglades of Florida, our country is built on the unique traditions and cultures of people from across our great nation. Each of the 56 states and territories that make up the United States is represented with a snowflake dangling from the ceiling in the East Colonnade.

Traditions new and old

Starting a new tradition last season, Mrs. Obama asked public school students from Washington, D.C., to share their dreams for their future in the East Colonnade. This year, those goals are featured on the hand-crafted snowflakes. With Reach Higher’s Better Make Room campaign, the First Lady is striving to inspire every student to pursue and attain those aspirations by completing their education beyond high school. To engage with these efforts, please visit www.ReachHigher.gov and use #BetterMakeRoom.

A long-standing holiday tradition—the White House crèche—graces the East Room. The nativity scene made of terra cotta and intricately carved wood was fashioned in Naples, Italy, in the eighteenth century. Donated to the White House in the 1960s, this piece has sat in the East Room for the holidays for more than 45 years, spanning nine administrations.

Get more background on the 2015 White House Holidays.

Engage With Us

Throughout the holiday season, we will feature guests who share their experience here at the White House using the hashtag #WHHolidays.

Can't make it to the White House for the holidays? Be sure to check our all of our official accounts as we post behind-the-scenes glimpses of the White House during the holiday season.

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In Photos: White House Holidays Through the Years

The Obamas The George W. Bushs The Clintons