Much Ado About Nothing

There has been much ado about the red Christmas trees in the people’s house—the White House.  Do you know how the people’s house got that name?  The White House was variously referred to  in the early years as the “President’s Palace,” “Presidential Mansion,”  and the “President’s House,” and sometimes called the “Executive Mansion,”  but none of these seemed to take hold.  After the Burning of Washington a myth developed.  It was said that the charred walls of the building were painted white to mask the burn damage.  Some say this sparked the public to begin calling it The White House”.  It wasn’t until 1901 that President Theodore Roosevelt had the “White House” engraved on the official stationery (previously it was the “Executive Mansion”) and it was during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration that the current letterhead   “The White House” appeared on the official stationery.   

In my brief research about The White House I read, “The main residence, as well as foundations of the house, were built largely by enslaved and free African-American laborers, as well as employed Europeans.  Much of the other work on the house was performed by immigrants many not yet with citizenship.”  

Now we are making much ado about First Lady Melania Trump’s red Christmas trees.  It is much ado about nothing!  Red trees for Christmas are not uncommon during the holidays.  It is true they are a change from the traditional green, but why get all excited?  And why try to find justification for the “red” trees as a FB post attempts to do?  The post has Mrs. Trump walking among the red trees with the caption: “A woman who knows the meaning of Christmas” and stating:  “Red trees are significant to the early Christian church.  In eastern Europe, the church would dye the trees red to symbolize the blood of Jesus and the resurrection.”  Search as I may, I’ve found no evidence of trees being dyed red in the days of yore, neither in eastern Europe or anywhere.  But be that as it may—it seems to me, this Christmas tree business is much ado about nothing.

The Christmas tree (red, white, blue, green, silver, or any other color) is a relatively new addition to our Christmas traditions.  The first Christmas tree set up inside the “White House” occurred only 127 years ago when Benjamin Harrison set up a tree for his grandchildren.  (Previous presidents had Christmas trees, but Harrison gets the credit historically).

How about pink?

Here in America, in 1840 or so,  the Christmas tree was seen as a pagan symbol and viewed as unacceptable by the majority of Americans.  In fact, Christmas celebrations were frowned upon by our “Thanksgiving” pilgrims.  Their governor, William Bradford, wrote that he tried hard to stamp out the “pagan mockery” of the Christmas observance, penalizing any and all frivolity.  The singing of Christmas carols, decorated trees, and any and all joyful “heathen expressions” were seen as desecrating “that sacred event.”  So, reactions (negative or positive) about “red” Christmas trees is much ado about nothing!