The tradition of Christmas tree themes started back in 1961 with First Lady Jackie Kennedy. It continues through to today. Jackie based the first Christmas tree theme on Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker,” during her husband’s first year in office.
The tradition has continued every year and each year, the First Lady chooses how it will be decorated. Past themes have included “American Flower Tree,” “Antique Toy,” and “Mother Goose.” In 2017, First Lady Melania Trump chose a theme called “Time-Honored Traditions.”
The Inauguration is on January 20th
When a new president is elected, they are inaugurated into the White House on January 20. This is the ceremony marking the start of the new four-year term. Since 1937, it has taken place on January 20. The president can only move in on that exact day, as their predecessor still lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue until January 19. "We're not allowed in the White House until noon on January 20, so we have to operate virtually from an off-site location and organize all the logistics there," states Bradley Blakeman, who served as deputy assistant to Former President George W. Bush. Blakeman was responsible for scheduling every minute of the president's time — including on move-in day. "It's organized and they've got it done to a science. It's like a military maneuver." From the time where the past President is moving out and the elected President is moving in, staff members work hard scrubbing the White House, polishing the furniture, and cleaning windows.
The new First Family only has 12 hours to move into the White House, mostly for security purposes. It is reported that The Obamas took only five short hours to fully move out of the White House. They may have pulled a record! A chief usher plans the move-in day to the T, giving the White House staff floor plans and photographs to specifically show where that show where each item goes.
The Annual Hanukkah Party
While it isn't a rule, it has become a tradition for the president to host an annual Hanukkah party. This tradition began in 1979 when President Jimmy Carter was in office. Carter lit the menorah on the Ellipse, a park just south of the White House.
The first president to light the Hanukkah menorah in the White House was President George W. Bush in 2001. Bush lit a 100-year-old Hanukkah menorah that the White House borrowed from the Jewish Museum of New York. Bush hosted many annual Christmas parties. He ascertained that many previous presidents had participated in Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremonies, but that this occasion was the first time that the ceremony had been carried out as part of a bigger, community celebration, and observance of the holiday in the White House. While prior to him, candles had been lit in the Oval Office, this was the first time in American history that the celebration would take place in the White House residence. The tradition has continued through to this day. Those invited to the party include hundreds of American Jewish politicians, organization heads, and school deans. Keep reading to learn about more long-standing traditions in the White House and rules that the First Family is expected to adhere to.
Car Windows Are Never Opened
Similar to the first family being prohibited from opening the windows of the White House, they are also forbidden from opening the windows of the car they are in.
On the rare instances that a car window is opened, it usually happens on private property and not in public.
The First Ladies
It has become a tradition for the incoming and outgoing first ladies to sit down and meet after election. Usually, this happens over a cup of tea at the White House. Most recently, outgoing first lady Michelle Obama met with Melania Trump to discuss what life is like in the White House.
The two reportedly talked about raising children in the White House. We are sure that it is no easy task raising children there. Michelle Obama also gave Melania Trump a private tour of the White House before they went to the Oval Office to meet their respective husbands.