2011 Christmas decorations at White House revealed by Michelle Obama

American First Lady Michelle Obama revealed White House Christmas decorations for this holiday season.

American First Dog Bo is upstaging the Christmas decorations at the White House in 2011.

This year, the Obamas’ Portuguese water dog is in almost every room of the ground and State floors, ranging from a miniature licorice and marshmallow version to a felt design four-and-a-half feet tall.

Michelle Obama welcomed military families to the first viewing of the decorations.

 

“Shine, Give, Share” is the theme for the Obama family’s third Christmas in the mansion.

The theme translates throughout the public viewing space from gold foil leaf trimming to shiny quartz ornaments.

First Dog Bo made a special appearance in the State Dining Room as military children created holiday ornaments and decorated cookies.

Several decorations honour military families including a Gold Star Families Tree with ceramic gold ornaments carrying personalized messages by families. Tour visitors can also create handwritten notes for the troops.

The usual masterpiece of Christmas at the White House is the official tree, an 18-and-a-half-foot tall balsam fir in the Blue Room. The Christmas tree at White House is decorated with holiday cards created by military children, medals, badges and patches from all the military branches.

“I want to thank all of the troops, all of our veterans and all of our military families,” Michelle Obama said at the unveiling.

“Your service and sacrifice inspire us all.”

The Red Room of White House features fruit, foliage and flowers set in pepperberry- and cranberry-covered vases and a nine-and-a-half-inch tall Bo replica made of buttons.

Denver caterer and event planner David Bondarchuck, who designed the Green Room decorations, said he wanted to enhance the “simple beauty” of the room. “I didn’t want to overdo it,” David Bondarchuck said.

The room was decorated with various hues of green with a bit of “sparkle and shine” including pine cones, twigs, and clear and silver ornaments, David Bondarchuck said.

Bo made a special appearance in the State Dining Room as military children created holiday ornaments and decorated cookies with the White House chefs Cristeta Comerford and Bill Yosses, and White House florist Laura Dowling.

Michelle Obama drew a laugh from the crowd when she said Bo, “the most famous member of the Obama family,” has been a little confused walking around the house and seeing himself in “gigantic form”.

A total of 37 Christmas trees and a 400lb White House made of gingerbread, white chocolate and marzipan also decorate the executive mansion. Some of the handcrafted decorations are made of paper, felt and recycled cans.

Approximately 85,000 visitors are expected to tour the Christmas decorations this December, the White House said.

Nearly 100 holiday volunteers from across the country assisted with the decorations, transforming 16 distinct spaces into works of art.

Tomorrow, the Black Eyed Peas and Kermit the Frog will join the festivies, and the lineup of performers who will help light the National Christmas Tree near the White House.

Carson Daly will host the lighting ceremony, introducing performers including Big Time Rush, Ellie Goulding, the band OneRepublic, country star Rodney Atkins and singer Marsha Ambrosius.

President Barack Obama and his family will officially light the tree.

This will be the 89th year for the holiday tree lighting. The tradition began with President Calvin Coolidge in 1923.

This is the first lighting of a new National Christmas Tree that was planted in March.

It’s a 26-foot-tall Colorado blue spruce from a New Jersey tree nursery. Strong winds in February toppled the last tree that had stood on the Ellipse since 1978.

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