The White House finalizes its selection of a Christmas tree annually from a different tree farm in the United States. For 2020, the National Christmas Tree Association is providing the 18.5-foot Douglas fir that will be displayed in the Blue Room of the White House.
This tree was grown by Shep and Sharon Owen, owners of Crystal Valley Tree Farm in Lehighton, Pennsylvania. It has been harvested just prior to Thanksgiving and makes the 2,100-mile trip via flatbed truck to its final destination, the White House.
The White House Historical Association notes that since 1966, every president has chosen a National Christmas Tree Association member’s tree to decorate the Blue Room.
Where does the Christmas tree at the Capitol come from this year?
This year, the Christmas tree for the United States Capitol comes from the Willamette National Forest in Oregon. The tree is a 79-foot noble fir, donated by the Leavens Family from Lyons, Oregon. The Leavens Family is a fourth-generation Oregon family, who own a business that includes both timber production and timber recreation.
The tree was harvested on November 5th, and arrived at the Capitol on November 28th. During the journey, the tree travelled across Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and Washington, DC.
Along the way, the tree made designated stops in multiple cities, such as Casper, Wyoming and Cheyenne, Wyoming, to give the public an opportunity to meet and learn more about the tree.
The tree will eventually be placed in the Capitol’s inner courtyard, elevated above the ground, in an effort to symbolize the massive grandeur and beauty of nature. During the Christmas season, the tree will be illuminated and decorated to bring holiday cheer to the Capitol.
It’s a special honor for the Leavens family to have their tree chosen for the Capitol this year. It is a family tradition for them to select and donate a tree for the Capitol each year.
The Capitol Christmas Tree is a symbol of hope and goodwill. All Americans can come together to celebrate this holiday season by admiring the beauty of nature with this special noble fir.
What president did not allow a Christmas tree in the White House?
Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, was the President who did not allow a Christmas tree in the White House. During his presidency, Roosevelt believed that Christmas should be a time of more reflection than celebration, as he described it in his autobiography: “The children made merry over the tree, but I gave it as little encouragement as possible, for I had come to see more and more that the true spirit of the holiday was not in the giving and getting presents, but in the contemplation of the great event which it commemorated”.
Instead of focusing on presents and decorating a tree, the White House instead celebrated by hosting hymns, prayer, and meditation. It wasn’t until 1923, when President Calvin Coolidge was in office, that White House Christmas trees began to appear again.
What kind of tree is the National Christmas Tree?
The National Christmas Tree is a Colorado Blue Spruce. This tree is native to the Rocky Mountains and is a popular choice for Christmas trees due to its thick, short needles, which grow in a contrasting shades of blue-green.
The Colorado Blue Spruce can grow up to 75 feet in height and has open, pyramidal growth form. It is also widely used in landscaping due its attractive color, strong fragrant needles, and is tolerant of most climates.
The National Christmas Tree is also adorned with thousands of LED lights and ornaments each year, making for a stunning sight for visitors to see.
How much was Biden’s Christmas tree?
Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden spent $477 on their first White House holiday tree this year. The 26-foot Douglas fir was decorated with 3,000 ornaments, twinkling lights and bows, according to a White House official.
The tree was purchased from Popowich Greenhouse in Glenside, PA, the same greenhouse that provided trees to the White House for several years during the Obama administration. Last year, before arriving at the White House, the Bidens spent $69.99 on a 4.
5-foot Fraser fir from a home improvement store in their hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.
Why are artificial Christmas trees so expensive this year?
The prices for artificial Christmas trees have increased this year for a variety of reasons. One of the primary factors is the high demand for these types of trees due to the pandemic. With many people avoiding real evergreen trees and opting for artificial ones instead, retailers are trying to capitalize off of this spike in demand by increasing the prices of their products.
In addition, tariffs implemented on Chinese imports have also been linked to the increased cost of artificial Christmas trees. As China is the world’s largest producer of artificial Christmas trees, the tariffs have caused the cost of importing these trees to go up.
This increase has contributed to the higher prices of artificial trees seen this season.
Finally, rising costs of raw materials have also been linked to the uptick in prices for artificial Christmas trees. Prices for PVC, plastic, and other materials commonly used to make artificial trees are up compared to last year.
This increase in prices has caused retailers to pass the added costs onto customers via inflated prices.
All of these factors combined have led to the higher costs of artificial Christmas trees this season.
How much should I pay for an artificial Christmas tree?
The cost of an artificial Christmas tree can vary greatly depending on how realistic you would like the tree to look, what features it has (such as pre-strung lights or a prelit LED tree), and how large it is.
You can expect to pay anywhere from $50 to over $1000 for a quality artificial Christmas tree. If you are looking for a more realistic-looking artificial Christmas tree, you can find some in the $100-$300 range.
These tend to come with lighting, trees that look like real pine, various colors to choose from, and a great warranty. If you want something even more realistic, you can find some trees in the higher price range that look even more realistic and are made from higher-quality materials such as PVC.
These trees may cost anywhere from $400-$1000 and can have features like pre-strung lights, remote controlled lighting, realistic-looking foliage and branches, and even metal stands. Ultimately, the amount you pay for an artificial Christmas tree will depend on your budget, your personal preferences, and the features you would like in a tree.
How many years do artificial trees last?
Artificial trees can last for a long time if cared for properly. On average, an artificial tree will last around 10 years, depending on the quality of the tree and the care given. Most artificial trees come with a warranty, which provides some assurance that they will last several years.
Quality materials, such as PVC or PE, are generally more durable and last longer than cheaper materials, such as Styrofoam, which are more prone to breaking down over time. Additionally, proper storage and care is vital to keeping an artificial tree in good condition.
Trees should be kept in a cool and dry place away from direct sunlight and any other sources of heat. It’s also important to remember to take your tree apart and store the parts carefully after each Christmas season.
Following these preventative measures will extend the life of your artificial tree significantly.
Why did Teddy Roosevelt bar the Christmas tree from being displayed in the White House?
Teddy Roosevelt had a strong stance against the idea of decorating a Christmas tree in the White House since he felt that it trivialized the importance of this religious holiday. He believed it was a sacred day that should be spent with family and friends, not decorating a tree and having a party in the White House.
He wanted people to recognize the true meaning of Christmas, and argued that displaying a Christmas tree in the White House would suggest that Christmas was simply another holiday. This was especially important given that Roosevelt was a practicing member of the Holland Reformed Church and held a deep reverence for the holiday.
Additionally, he believed that it was important for the White House to remain above appearing too focused on one religion, and instead focus on representing all beliefs. Ultimately, Roosevelt believed that Christmas should be celebrated in an intimate and spiritual way, and thought that displaying a Christmas tree in the White House would take away from the focus of this holiday.