‘We the People’ at Heart of White House Holiday

‘We the People’ at Heart of White House Holiday

First lady Jill Biden has made the idea of "We the People" central to this year's White House holiday decorations.

The Christmas decorations are said to be designed for "the people" to see themselves. Tree ornaments², mirrors, and simple and complex creations decorate the presidential home.

The first lady said, "The soul of our nation is, and always has been, ‘We the People.'"

Public rooms show objects honoring and remembering passed loved ones, words and stories, kindness and thankfulness, food and traditions, and children.

White house officials said Jill Biden was inspired by people she met while traveling around the country and by the nation's founding documents. They include the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

A copy of the Declaration of Independence is being shown in the White House library, a room for books and reading. And there is a 136-kilogram gingerbread version of the White House. The structure is made of a sweet food, gingerbread. It includes a small version of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where both founding documents were signed.

A new addition to the White House collection this year is a menorah. It is a religious piece that is lit nightly during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

About 50,000 visitors are expected to pass through the White House to see the decorations. They include visitors to Washington, D.C., and those invited to events to be held in the coming weeks.

Among the visitors will be French President Emmanuel Macron. He will meet with President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday. Macron will be honored at a state dinner, the first of the Biden administration.

More than 150 people, including two of the first lady's sisters, helped decorate the White House during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

The decorations include more than 83,000 lights on trees and other decorations and 77 Christmas trees. Additionally, volunteers used more than 12,000 small decorations, or ornaments, and 4,500 meters of thin cloth, or ribbon.

"Mirrored ornaments and reflective surfaces ensure that visitors can see themselves...noting that the strength of our country — the Soul of our Nation — comes from ‘We the People,'" administration officials said.

In the Blue Room, the official White House Christmas tree is decorated to represent unity³ and hope. It is from Pennsylvania. Handmade representations of the official birds from 57 territories, states, and the District of Columbia decorate the tree.

The White House noted⁴ that the holiday guide book visitors will receive was designed by Daria Peoples-Riley. She is a Black American writer of children's books who lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Peoples-Riley is a former school teacher who works with young children. She has written and illustrated⁵ a series of picture books to support children who have experienced race-based harmful events.

Jill Biden added, "The values that unite us can be found all around you, a belief in possibility, optimism and unity."

Words in This Story

decoration – n. something that is added to something else to make it more attractive

ornament¹ – n. a small, fancy object that is put on something else to make it more attractive

mirror – n. a piece of glass that reflects images

soul – n. the central or most important part of something that makes it effective, valuable

inspired – adj. having a particular cause or influence

reflect – v. usually related to light hitting a surface and bouncing off and moving in another direction

illustrated – v. to explain or decorate a story or book with pictures

optimism – n. a feeling or belief that good things will happen in the future

1 ornament   

v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物

参考例句：

• The flowers were put on the table for ornament.花放在桌子上做装饰用。
• She wears a crystal ornament on her chest.她的前胸戴了一个水晶饰品。

2 ornaments   

n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The shelves were chock-a-block with ornaments. 架子上堆满了装饰品。
• Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments. 一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 illustrated   

adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• His lecture was illustrated with slides taken during the expedition. 他在讲演中使用了探险时拍摄到的幻灯片。
• The manufacturing Methods: Will be illustrated in the next chapter. 制作方法将在下一章说明。