Decorating The White House Christmas Tree

It's that time of year again, and the White House Christmas Christmas decorations have been revealed. The controversy of 2018's decorations has been long forgotten in favour of a more traditional forest of Christmas trees, white lights and sentimental messages. The Trumps' fourth and final Christmas in the White House features the usual array of decorations, including rooms and corridors flanked by colour-coordinated trees and a model train pootling its way around some gold candelabras. It's a far cry from two years ago when the First Lady's choice for the State Floor - a series of crimson trees made out of red berries - raised a few eyebrows on Twitter given their resemblance to blood. Last year's theme was 'The Spirit of America' and it doesn't differ too greatly from this year, 'America the Beautiful' in terms of the decorations.

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The tradition of First Ladies decorating an official White House Christmas tree began with First Lady Lou Henry Hoover in 1929, and Jackie Kennedy came up with the idea of an annual theme for the decorations, employing a 'Nutcracker' theme for the 1961 tree. Over the years the tradition of the press Christmas preview has become more and more prominent, as First Ladies have presented the decorations for photographs. Memorably, Nancy Reagan embraced the annual event by inviting TV personalities to join her; the appearance of Mr T. in 1983 was a particular highlight.

Scroll down to see a history of White House Christmas decorations, from last year's highlights all the way back to FDR...

The final Christmas trees of the Trump era in the White House.
Melania Trump inspects her forest of trees on The State Floor of the Executive mansion of the White House, 2019.
The State Floor of the Executive mansion of the White House, 2018.
The Red Room decorated for Christmas during the 2018 Christmas Press Preview at the White House.
The State Floor of the Executive mansion of the White House, 2018.
Another view of the red berry trees on the State Floor.
The gingerbread house, showcasing the full expanse of the National Mall: the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, and, the White House is seen in the State Dining Room during the 2018 Christmas Press Preview at the White House.
White House Christmas holiday decorations on display, 2018.
The official White House Christmas tree in the Blue Room, 2018. The tree measures 18 feet tall and is dressed in over 500 feet of blue velvet ribbon embroidered in gold with each state and territory.
First Lady Melania Trump walks through the East Colonnade of the White House, 2017.
The Library of the White House decorated for the Obamas' final Christmas in the White House in 2016.
The Lower Cross Hall is decorated with "snowball" arches created from more than 6,000 ornaments and snowmen for the Obamas' final Christmas in 2016
The official White House Christmas Tree in the Blue Room, 2016.
Hilary Clinton inspects the gingerbread house in the state dining room, 2000.
Hilary Clinton with the White House Christmas tree in 1995.
Holiday decorations in the East Room of the State Floor for the Bushes' last Christmas in the White House in 2008.
President Reagan and Nancy Reagan pose next to their Christmas tree in 1988.
First lady Nancy Reagan dances with Santa, played by Dom DeLuise, during a press preview of the White House Christmas decorations in 1987.
First lady Nancy Reagan enlists the help of television's Mr. T during a Christmas tour of the White House for the media in 1983.
President Nixon and his family pose in front of the Christmas Tree in the Blue Room of the White House on Christmas Eve.
Posing in the White House library are, left to right: Pasha, Tricia Nixon's 2 year old Yorkshire terrier; Vicki, Julie Eisenhower's 7 year old miniature poodle; and King Timahoe, President Nixon's one year old Irish setter.
Betty Ford in front of the White House Christmas tree.
Jacqeuline Kennedy and her husband, President John F. Kennedy attend a White House staff Christmas Party in December 1962.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945), with his family at Christmas in the White House.