THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS 1995 CELEBRATES THE CLASSIC CHRISTMAS POEM

"A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS"

WASHINGTON, DC -- "TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, WHEN ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE..." is the theme for this year's Christmas at the White House. Ornaments for the White House Christmas trees have been donated by architects, needlepointers/embroiderers, culinary schools, and elementary schools.

"WHEN ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE..." The hundreds of ornaments decorating the White House Christmas tree, an 18 1/2 foot Fraser fir located in the Blue Room, were donated by members of the American Institute of Architects and architecture students. The ornaments depict the architects' vision of "all through the house." 271 AIA Chapters and 162 architecture schools from around the United States donated an estimated 600 ornaments for the Blue Room tree.

"STOCKINGS WERE HUNG BY THE CHIMNEY WITH CARE..." 204 needlepoint and embroidered stockings are also hung with care on the Blue Room tree. The stockings were made by the American Needlepoint Guild and the Embroiderers Guild of America. The stockings vary in size and are the design of the individual needlepointer/embroiderer featuring images from the poem.

"WHILE VISIONS OF SUGAR PLUMBS..." The four 17 foot trees in the Grand Foyer of the White House are decorated with ornaments from culinary schools. The estimated 2000 gingerbread, marzipan, sugar, cookie dough, salt dough, pastillage and chocolate ornaments were donated by both career and professional culinary programs as well as nonvocational culinary programs.

"THE CHILDREN WERE NESTLED ALL SNUG IN THEIR BEDS..." Master White House Pastry Chefs Roland Mesnier and Franett McCullouch have created a gingerbread model of First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton's childhood home in Park Ridge, Illinois. Located in the State Dining Room, the 70 pound ginger bread house features rooms decorated for Christmas complete with stockings hung from the mantel with care and children all snug in their beds.

THE TREESKIRT:
The tree skirt for the Blue Room tree consists of individual quilted panels representing each of the fifty states, territories and the District of Columbia. The quilted hunter green velvet panels are each uniquely designed, using a variety of quilting techniques.

STOCKING STUFFER TIPS:

• There are 40,280 white lights used on the Christmas trees throughout the White House; 5,040 of which are used on the Blue Room tree.
• The mantels in the Green Room and the Red Room are decorated by two groups from the Washington Architectural Forum: Architecture in the Schools and Community Design Services. The Forum was established by the Washington, DC Chapter of the AIA to encourage and foster public participation and involvement in the built environment of the Washington metropolitan area.
• The traditional White House creche is the focal point of the East Room. The creche was made in Naples, Italy in the late 18th century and features 47 carved wood and terra cotta figures. The creche was a gift to the White House from Mrs. Charles Engelhard, Jr. of Far Hills, NJ, and has been displayed at the White House since 1967.
• The White House Menorah will be in the West Wing. The Menorah was designed by craft artisan Zachary Oxman of Hillsboro, Virginia.
• The trees in the Diplomatic Reception Room will be decorated by the Department of Education's Blue Ribbon Schools. The Blue Ribbon School Program, sponsored by the United States Department of Education, recognizes and supports primary and secondary schools that are noted for their exceptional arts education programs.

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