‘Magic, Wonder and Joy’ of the Holidays Captivate at the White House

First lady unveils themed decor and brings back ice skating on the South Lawn.

White House Grand Foyer holiday decor features a recreation of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas with Santa’s enchanting sleigh and reindeer suspended in the air, and the Cross Hall’s architectural niches featuring elements from the story. (Credit: The White House)

The holidays at the White House were unwrapped this week with an eye to capture how children are enchanted by the season. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden’s themed decor — “Magic, Wonder and Joy” — illuminates a countdown to Christmas with nostalgia and yuletide in the form of: 142,425 holiday lights; 33,892 ornaments; 22,100 bells; 14,975 feet of ribbon; 350 candles; 98 Christmas trees; 72 classic wreaths. And … one holiday ice rink lit up on the South Lawn.   

“When I was growing up, during winter, my sisters and I would ice skate on the frozen canals of the Delaware River,” Biden said during the unveiling. “We spent hours gliding across the glistening ice, our cheeks pink from the cold. And in those hours, what was normally an ord…