This photograph of the White House gingerbread house was taken by David Wiegold on November 29, 2021 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. Executive chef Hans Raffert created the first gingerbread house for First Lady Pat Nixon in 1969, setting the stage for a decades-long holiday tradition. The gingerbread house in 2021 featured eight community buildings in addition to the Executive Mansion. The buildings, including a hospital, schoolhouse, and post office, honored frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The gingerbread house was made of 55 sheets of baked gingerbread, 120 pounds of pastillage, 35 pounds of chocolate, and 25 pounds of royal icing. For their first year in the White House, President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose the theme, "Gifts from the Heart." The theme was meant to honor the things we cherish and bring us together despite the obstacles posed by a pandemic, time, and distance.

This photograph of the Ground Floor Corridor was taken by David Wiegold on November 29, 2021 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. For their first year in the White House, President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose the theme, "Gifts from the Heart." The theme was meant to honor the things we cherish and bring us together despite the obstacles posed by a pandemic, time, and distance. The Ground Floor Corridor was lined with lush, green garlands and topiaries decorated with branches of red berries and white lights.

This photograph of the Blue Room Christmas tree was taken by David Wiegold on November 29, 2021, during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. For their first year in the White House, President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose the theme, "Gifts from the Heart." The theme was meant to honor the things we cherish and bring us together despite the obstacles posed by a pandemic, time, and distance. The 2021 tree was an 18 1/2 foot Fraser fir hailing from Jefferson, North Carolina. It was grown by Rusty and Beau Estes of Peak Farms. The tree was adorned with peace doves bearing a ribbon with the names of the fifty states and territories to symbolize "Peace and Unity."

This photograph of the Blue Room Christmas tree was taken by David Wiegold on November 29, 2021 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. For their first year in the White House, President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose the theme, "Gifts from the Heart." The theme was meant to honor the things we cherish and bring us together despite the obstacles posed by a pandemic, time, and distance. The 2021 tree was an 18 1/2 foot Fraser fir hailing from Jefferson, North Carolina. It was grown by Rusty and Beau Estes of Peak Farms. The tree was adorned with peace doves bearing a ribbon with the names of the fifty states and territories to symbolize "Peace and Unity."

This photograph of the Entrance Hall ceiling and holiday decor was taken by David Wiegold on November 29, 2021 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. For their first year in the White House, President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose the theme, "Gifts from the Heart." The theme was meant to honor the things we cherish and bring us together despite the obstacles posed by a pandemic, time, and distance. The Entrance Hall was decorated with suspended candles and displays among the Christmas trees and alcoves showcasing villages in winter to represent the "Gift of Faith and Community."

This photograph of the China Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 29, 2021 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. For their first year in the White House, President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose the theme, "Gifts from the Heart." The theme was meant to honor the things we cherish and bring us together despite the obstacles posed by a pandemic, time, and distance. The tree in the China Room in 2021 was strung with garlands of interlocking hands alongside a festively decorated table to symbolize the "Gifts of Friends and Sharing."

This photograph of the Cross Hall was taken by David Wiegold on November 29, 2021 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. For their first year in the White House, President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose the theme, "Gifts from the Heart." The theme was meant to honor the things we cherish and bring us together despite the obstacles posed by a pandemic, time, and distance. The Cross Hall was decorated with suspended candles and displays among the Christmas trees and alcoves showcasing villages in winter to represent the "Gift of Faith and Community."

This photograph of the East Colonnade was taken by David Wiegold on November 29, 2021 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. For their first year in the White House, President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose the theme, "Gifts from the Heart." The theme was meant to honor the things we cherish and bring us together despite the obstacles posed by a pandemic, time, and distance. Iridescent doves and shooting starts decorated the East Colonnade in 2021. The illuminating decorations were symbolic of the peace and light dedicated frontline workers and first responders provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This photograph of the East Garden Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 29, 2021 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. For their first year in the White House, President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose the theme, "Gifts from the Heart." The theme was meant to honor the things we cherish and bring us together despite the obstacles posed by a pandemic, time, and distance. The East Garden Room traditionally features displays of holiday cards sent by the president and first lady, as seen on the right.

This photograph of the 2021 Official White House Ornament was taken by David Wiegold on November 29, 2021 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. The 2021 ornament paid tribute to the legacy of President Lyndon B. Johnson and was on display in the East Garden Room. The Official White House Ornament has been a part of the White House holiday decorations since the very first ornament in 1981. For their first year in the White House, President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose the theme, "Gifts from the Heart." The theme was meant to honor the things we cherish and bring us together despite the obstacles posed by a pandemic, time, and distance.

This photograph of the East Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 29, 2021 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. For their first year in the White House, President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose the theme, "Gifts from the Heart." The theme was meant to honor the things we cherish and bring us together despite the obstacles posed by a pandemic, time, and distance. The East Room featured oversized "thank you" cards to reflect the "Gift of Gratitude" that is often expressed through simple acts of kindness.

This photograph of the East Room crèche was taken by David Wiegold on November 29, 2021 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. For their first year in the White House, President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose the theme, "Gifts from the Heart." The theme was meant to honor the things we cherish and bring us together despite the obstacles posed by a pandemic, time, and distance. The crèche was donated to the White House Collection by Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. of Far Hills, New Jersey in 1967 during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration.

This photograph of the Gold Star Family tree in the East Landing was taken by David Wiegold on November 29, 2021 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. In 2011, First Lady Michelle Obama chose to honor Gold Star military families with a special tree bearing the names of fallen military and decorated by the soldiers' families. The tradition continued beyond Mrs. Obama's time in the White House, including in 2021 by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. For their first year in the White House, President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose the theme, "Gifts from the Heart." The theme was meant to honor the things we cherish and bring us together despite the obstacles posed by a pandemic, time, and distance.

This photograph of the Gold Star Family tree in the East Landing was taken by David Wiegold on November 29, 2021 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. In 2011, First Lady Michelle Obama chose to honor Gold Star military families with a special tree bearing the names of fallen military and decorated by the soldiers' families. The tradition continued beyond Mrs. Obama's time in the White House, including in 2021 by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. For their first year in the White House, President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose the theme, "Gifts from the Heart." The theme was meant to honor the things we cherish and bring us together despite the obstacles posed by a pandemic, time, and distance.