When this year’s Christmas tree arrived at the White House just before Thanksgiving by horse-drawn wagon, the conveyance brought more than an evergreen: It also carried more than a century of history.

The 2025 tree – a majestic 18-foot concolor fir with silvery-blue needles from Michigan – is the first from that state in 40 years. This year’s White House decorations, in accordance with first lady Melania Trump's theme, shine light on home and heart “with gold stars and ornaments representing the official bird and flower of every U.S. state and territory – a tribute to the resilience, bravery and sacrifice of our military personnel and their families,” her office said.

Since 1966, the official White House Christmas Tree has come from tree farms that win a national competition held by the National Christmas Tree Association. White House staff then visit the champion grower’s farm and select a tree with a perfectly balanced pyramid shape because, as White House Superintendent of Grounds Dale Haney put it, there’s no “bad side” allowed with a tree that stands in the center of the Blue Room.

But how did the beloved tradition of Christmas trees at the executive mansion begin?

For most of the 1800s, White House Christmases were modest. Presidents and first ladies decorated with evergreen boughs and wreaths, celebrating privately with family and friends.

Then, in 1870, Christmas became a federal holiday. Displays grew across the country as department stores rolled out glittering window treatments and decorating became a more public........

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