It must be a pretty surprise to know that the Christmas tree was banned in the White House for some time. And the then President had his own reasons for not having a decorated tree at his residence. It was Theodore Roosevelt, a grave conservationist who had banned Christmas trees in the White House.
There have been Christmas trees being used every year around the world. These days Christmas is celebrated in all its glory and glamour in the White House. The presidential residence is decorated with Christmas trees, stars, and other ornaments for Christmas. Here’s the reason why Roosevelt banned Christmas trees during his presidency.
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Theodore Roosevelt Banned Christmas Tree In The White House
In order to set an example for his country, it was Theodore Roosevelt banned Christmas trees in the White House. He believed that the holiday caused a lot of trees to be cut down. It was in 1902 that Theodore Roosevelt started this practice of not using a Christmas tree. The President and his family would celebrate Christmas by exchanging gifts “but there will be no Christmas tree in the White House,” according to The Sun newspaper.
But whatever the case, even though the President didn’t want a tree, his youngest son had very different plans. Roosevelt’s youngest sons Archibald, and Quentin with the help of the staff in the White House did have a Christmas tree. With the help of the White House staff, they cut down a small fir tree from the grounds and hid it away in a closet. In addition, they decorated it with lights. On Christmas Day, the children surprised their parents with the Christmas tree and small gifts for every family member.
Later on, Roosevelt asked his conservationist Gifford Pinchot to lecture his children on banning Christmas trees. But instead, Pinchot had said that it was fine to have trees cut periodically. This would enable more sunlight for the other trees. However, Roosevelt still continued to not have Christmas trees in the White House till he remain the president.
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Christmas Trees Over The Years In White House
The trees were not always part of Christmas celebrations in the White House. In the 19th century, Christmas trees would be up in houses only if there were young children. Otherwise, it was not always part of Christmas traditions. As mentioned on the Forest History Society website, the first president to have a Christmas tree in the White House was Benjamin Harrison in 1889.
Harrison decorated his tree with candles. Before that, it was Franklin Pierce who decorated the Christmas tree which was kept on the White House lawn in 1853. Finally, the first electric lights on a family tree in the White House were in 1894 during the presidency of Grover Cleveland.
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