The White House Historical Association Reveals Official 2022 White House Christmas Ornament
Gingerbread White House Celebrates a Holiday Tradition
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This photograph of the White House Historical Associations Official White House Christmas Ornament was photographed by David Wiegold. The 2022 ornament commemorates the presidency of Richard M. Nixon, who held office from January 20, 1969 until August 9, 1974. The ornament represents what has become one of the White House's most cherished holiday traditions: the White House gingerbread house. Although gingerbread was used for holiday decorations and small gingerbread houses had previously been gifted to the White House, it wasn't until 1969 that White House Assistant Chef Hans Raffert built a traditional German A-frame style house for the Nixon family. Raffert's first gingerbread was decorated with white icing as well as colorful candies and gumdrops. Raffert continued making a gingerbread house in this fashion every year until his retirement in 1992. White House gingerbread displays became larger and more elaborate under White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, who oversaw the creation of festive villages, childhood homes, castles, national monuments and historic sites, and marzipan sculptures of thefirst families and their pets. During the George W. Bush presidency, a gingerbread replica of the White House became the standard that continues today. These gingerbread houses are often molded out of chocolate, weigh around 300 pounds, and are assembled and decorated by a team of confectionary experts.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association -
This photograph of the reverse side of the White House Historical Associations Official White House Christmas Ornament was photographed by David Wiegold. The 2022 ornament commemorates the presidency of Richard M. Nixon, who held office from January 20, 1969 until August 9, 1974. The ornament represents what has become one of the White House's most cherished holiday traditions: the White House gingerbread house. Although gingerbread was used for holiday decorations and small gingerbread houses had previously been gifted to the White House, it wasn't until 1969 that White House Assistant Chef Hans Raffert built a traditional German A-frame style house for the Nixon family. Raffert's first gingerbread was decorated with white icing as well as colorful candies and gumdrops. Raffert continued making a gingerbread house in this fashion every year until his retirement in 1992. White House gingerbread displays became larger and more elaborate under White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, who oversaw the creation of festive villages, childhood homes, castles, national monuments and historic sites, and marzipan sculptures of thefirst families and their pets. During the George W. Bush presidency, a gingerbread replica of the White House became the standard that continues today. These gingerbread houses are often molded out of chocolate, weigh around 300 pounds, and are assembled and decorated by a team of confectionary experts.
David Wiegold for the White House Historical Association
Feb 21, 2022 Washington, D.C. —
The White House Historical Association today revealed the Official 2022 White House Christmas Ornament, in the image of a gingerbread White House.
In 1969, First Lady Patricia Nixon started the tradition of an annual gingerbread on display at the White House. Created by Assistant Chef Hans Raffert, the first gingerbread was a traditional German style A-frame standing two feet tall and weighing 40 pounds. Years later, White House Chef Roland Mesnier introduced a gingerbread design that depicted the White House itself – a concept that inspired the design of the Official 2022 White House Christmas Ornament.
See high-resolution images of the Official 2022 White House Christmas Ornament
“This year’s Official 2022 White House Christmas Ornament honors a now longstanding holiday tradition at the White House and serves as a testament to First Lady Patricia Nixon’s influence on American holiday traditions,” said Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association.
Television host Al Roker unveiled the Official 2022 White House Christmas Ornament on the Today Show this morning. The White House Historical Association and the Richard Nixon Foundation will also host an event to announce the Official 2022 White House Christmas Ornament at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California today. This in-person program is open to the public and will stream online on YouTube at 2PM EST/ 11AM PST.
The White House Historical Association’s focus for 2022 centers on “White House Tastemakers and Trendsetters” – a theme that provides a closer look at the ways in which individuals who lived, visited, or worked in the White House have shaped our American culture.
The Official 2022 White House Christmas Ornament, in the image of a gingerbread house and features the White House North and South Porticos, adorned with candy canes, mints, gumdrops and swirled accents in white to mimic piped icing. A ribbon hangs below the house, reading “The White House” and “Christmas.”
The Official White House Christmas Ornament is hand-crafted in the United States from solid brass, screen printed with enamel inks, and packaged in a collectible box with a scented card outlining Patricia Nixon’s gingerbread recipe.
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Since 1981, the White House Historical Association has designed and manufactured the Official White House Christmas Ornament. Each year, the ornament commemorates a president’s time in the White House, in sequential order, or a significant White House anniversary. The Official White House Christmas Ornament is traditionally hung in the White House. Collecting and gifting these ornaments has become a holiday tradition for millions. The White House Historical Association is a private, nonpartisan, non-profit organization that protects, preserves, and provides public access to the People’s House.
The Official White House Christmas Ornament is available at shop.whitehousehistory.org.
Ornament price: $24.95
Learn more about White House holiday traditions and history of White House gingerbread.
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY
Stewart McLaurin, President, The White House Historical Association
Stewart can speak about the Official White House Christmas Ornament program and holiday traditions at the White House.
To schedule, contact press@whha.org.
Follow the White House Historical Association:
- Facebook: @whitehousehistory
- Instagram: @whitehousehistory
- Twitter: @whitehousehstry
- LinkedIn: The White House Historical Association
P.D.F. Resources
Download the PDFAbout the White House Historical Association
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. She sought to inspire Americans, especially children, to explore and engage with American history and its presidents. In 1961, the nonprofit, nonpartisan White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion’s legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association’s mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the Association has given more than $50 million to the White House in fulfillment of its mission.
To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit WhiteHouseHistory.org.
