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Christmas Themes: Jacqueline Kennedy Refines the Season - Photo 2

Christmas Themes: Jacqueline Kennedy Refines the Season - Photo 2

In 1961, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy began the tradition of selecting a theme for the official White House Christmas tree. She decorated a tree placed in the oval Blue Room with ornamental toys, birds and angels modeled after Petr Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" ballet. Mrs. Kennedy reused these ornaments in 1962 for her children's theme tree. Set up in the North Entrance, this festive tree also featured brightly wrapped packages, candy canes, gingerbread cookies and straw ornaments made by disabled or senior citizen craftspeople throughout the United States.

Photographer
Robert Knudson
Date of Work
1961
Medium
Photo
Credit
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library