By ABBY TYSON

The White House halls have become a trimmed, crimson forest of red as the holiday season approaches. First Lady Melania Trump’s choice of red trees for decorations this year has sparked interest in the public and the media, all finding her choice of color rather interesting.

According to WhiteHouseHistory.org, the first Christmas tree was placed in the White House for the holiday season of 1889 during the presidential term of Benjamin Harrison. This tree was decorated with various candles and toys. This entire decision came from Harrison with a desire to please his grandchildren, to give them a Christmas in the White House when they would come to visit. After Benjamin Harrison left office, putting up a Christmas tree and decorating it has become a tradition that most of the presidents have refused to break. The tradition of decorating and presenting a Christmas tree in the White House has changed over the years, depending on how many children, if any at all, would be spending time in the White House with the president and their family. Or, perhaps, depending on the holiday that the president celebrates. The tradition has changed and morphed in its own special way every year.

Each presidential family has added their own touch to their decorations throughout the year. Grover Cleveland was the first to put electric lights on his trees, while first lady Lou Henry Hoover started the still unbroken tradition of the official Christmas tree being placed first in the Blue Room. It was only during the Kennedy administration that themes had begun to be selected for the decorating of the trees, especially the Blue Room Christmas tree.

The first theme presented by the Kennedy administration was the “Nutcracker Suite” ballet, which involved the decoration with various toys. The Clinton administration’s theme was “Santa’s workshop,” but this year, the Trump family plans to put a lot more meaning into their decorations, and it has sparked quite a bit of interest in the public.

The theme this year of the White House decorations has been declared to be the “American Treasures,” honoring the interesting American history, promoting something similar to unity. Besides from just the red trees that Melania had refused to comment directly to the press during the traditional interview, the Trump family has also decorated the traditional Gold Star Family tree and the three tables located within the White House with replicas of state dinners over the years.

This year’s theme at the White House is the representation of the unique American history that all people in America should have an idea about. The history of our country explains our purpose, explains how the country has gotten into the position that it is today.