'We the People' at Heart of White House Holiday
2022-11-29
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1First lady Jill Biden has made the idea of "We the People" central to this year's White House holiday decorations.
2The Christmas decorations are said to be designed for "the people" to see themselves.
3Tree ornaments, mirrors, and simple and complex creations decorate the presidential home.
4The first lady said, "The soul of our nation is, and always has been, 'We the People.'"
5Public rooms show objects honoring and remembering passed loved ones, words and stories, kindness and thankfulness, food and traditions, and children.
6White house officials said Jill Biden was inspired by people she met while traveling around the country and by the nation's founding documents.
7They include the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
8A copy of the Declaration of Independence is being shown in the White House library, a room for books and reading.
9And there is a 136-kilogram gingerbread version of the White House.
10The structure is made of a sweet food, gingerbread.
11It includes a small version of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where both founding documents were signed.
12A new addition to the White House collection this year is a menorah.
13It is a religious piece that is lit nightly during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.
14About 50,000 visitors are expected to pass through the White House to see the decorations.
15They include visitors to Washington, D.C., and those invited to events to be held in the coming weeks.
16Among the visitors will be French President Emmanuel Macron.
17He will meet with President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday.
18Macron will be honored at a state dinner, the first of the Biden administration.
19More than 150 people, including two of the first lady's sisters, helped decorate the White House during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
20The decorations include more than 83,000 lights on trees and other decorations and 77 Christmas trees.
21Additionally, volunteers used more than 12,000 small decorations, or ornaments, and 4,500 meters of thin cloth, or ribbon.
22"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.
23In the Blue Room, the official White House Christmas tree is decorated to represent unity and hope. It is from Pennsylvania.
24Handmade representations of the official birds from 57 territories, states, and the District of Columbia decorate the tree.
25The White House noted that the holiday guide book visitors will receive was designed by Daria Peoples-Riley.
26She is a Black American writer of children's books who lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.
27Peoples-Riley is a former school teacher who works with young children.
28She has written and illustrated a series of picture books to support children who have experienced race-based harmful events.
29Jill Biden added, "The values that unite us can be found all around you, a belief in possibility, optimism and unity."
30I'm Gregory Stachel.
1First lady Jill Biden has made the idea of "We the People" central to this year's White House holiday decorations. 2The Christmas decorations are said to be designed for "the people" to see themselves. Tree ornaments, mirrors, and simple and complex creations decorate the presidential home. 3The first lady said, "The soul of our nation is, and always has been, 'We the People.'" 4Public rooms show objects honoring and remembering passed loved ones, words and stories, kindness and thankfulness, food and traditions, and children. 5White 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. 6A 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. 7A 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. 8About 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. 9Among 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. 10More than 150 people, including two of the first lady's sisters, helped decorate the White House during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. 11The 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. 12"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. 13In the Blue Room, the official White House Christmas tree is decorated to represent unity and hope. It is from Pennsylvania. Handmade representations of the official birds from 57 territories, states, and the District of Columbia decorate the tree. 14The White House noted 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. 15Peoples-Riley is a former school teacher who works with young children. She has written and illustrated a series of picture books to support children who have experienced race-based harmful events. 16Jill Biden added, "The values that unite us can be found all around you, a belief in possibility, optimism and unity." 17I'm Gregory Stachel. 18Darlene Superville reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 19___________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21decoration - n. something that is added to something else to make it more attractive 22ornament - n. a small, fancy object that is put on something else to make it more attractive 23mirror - n. a piece of glass that reflects images 24soul - n. the central or most important part of something that makes it effective, valuable 25inspired - adj. having a particular cause or influence 26reflect - v. usually related to light hitting a surface and bouncing off and moving in another direction 27illustrated - v. to explain or decorate a story or book with pictures 28optimism - n. a feeling or belief that good things will happen in the future 29__________________________________________________________________ 30What do you think of this year's White House holiday decorations? 31We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 32Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.