For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
November 30, 2005

Fact Sheet: White House Holiday Decorations

      Holidays at the White House 2005

Volunteers 63
Garland 580 feet
Christmas Trees 18 trees
Wreaths 204
Christmas Cookies 30,000
Petit fours 10,000
Truffles 1,100
Sweet Potatoes 2,100 pounds
Guests touring the White House during the Holidays 45,000
Guests attending receptions during the Holidays 9,500
Countries receiving a Christmas Card from the White House 200

Christmas Card Artist Jamie Wyeth
Holiday Booklet Artist Donna Green

EAST WING

• Boxwood wreaths with lime and gold ribbons
• Myrtle topiary trees in the Colonnade with fragrant paperwhite narcissus planted at the base
• Large bay topiary tree with white lights, rich green pears and a partridge perched at the top

Lower Cross Hall:

• Paperwhites
• Animal-shaped, myrtle topiary trees on the pier tables are made of moss and ivy

Library:

• Traditional holiday greens garland with green pears
• A large container filled with orange-sherbet hued Rilona amaryllis on the center table

Vermeil Room:

• Garland of lemon greenery and lemons
• The center arrangement is of white tulips in a magnificent vermeil bowl.

STATE FLOOR

East Room:

• Boxwood window wreaths and doorway garlands with gold and lime ribbon.
• Hot pink rose topiaries in vermeil cache-pots, with ball topiaries and crystal candelabra.
• Lime green tablecloth with a matching overlay lined in hot pink tops the buffet table.
• Hot pink French tulips fill silver pedestals with collars of green pears
• The traditional crèche (circa 18th century Italy)
• Two trees with hot pink roses and white lights flank the cr che

Green Room:

• Garlands of greenery and limes drape the mantel
• Urns filled with greenery, limes and pineapples
• Peach tulips and amaryllis

Blue Room:

• The official White House Christmas Tree, an 18 foot Fraser fir from the Smokey Holler Tree Farm owned by Betsy and Earl Deal of Laurel Springs, North Carolina. The tree is decorated with fresh white lilies, crystal garland and white lights.

Red Room:

• Boxwood garland
• Cranberry tree
• White tulips and red berries

State Dining Room:

• Lime green tablecloth with an orange overlay and floral centerpiece on the buffet table.
• Topiaries in silver punch bowls, each five feet tall, made of alternating layers of lemon leaves and tangerines.
• Silver pedestal bowl with greens and pears
• Vermeil containers, echoing the vermeil sconces and chandelier, filled with orange French tulips.
• Boxwood garland intertwined with amber crystals, amber glass balls, and lights.

  Gingerbread White House

  • View of the North Portico

  • 100 pounds (34 sheets) of gingerbread

  • 150 pounds of white and dark chocolate

  • Clear, poured sugar windows

  • One strand of white lights inside the Gingerbread White House make it glow

Grand Foyer:

• Trees of white azaleas contrast with the hot pink and orange French tulips on the Cross Hall pier tables
• Boxwood garland with silver and gold crystals and amber glass balls drape the doorways.
• Silk garland tied with lime and gold ribbon drapes the Grand Staircase.
• Hot pink and orange French tulips in vermeil containers
• Garland of boxwood, apples, pomegranates and pears.

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