White House To Celebrate "A Red, White And Blue Christmas" This Year

December 3, 2008 2:12 p.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The White House on Wednesday announced its theme for festivities this Christmas, which will be the last one President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush are to spend at the White House.

This year's theme, "A Red, White and Blue Christmas," commemorates the "patriotic spirit that unites us as Americans," the first lady's press secretary, Sally Mcdonough, said in a statement.

Bush and the First Lady are expected to welcome more than 60,000 visitors this holiday season. The White House has been filled with decorations for the tours, including two 13-foot tall statues of Uncle Sam at entrance to the East Wing, a display of Christmas cards from 10 presidential administrations, six miniature reproductions of presidents' homes and a gingerbread White House at the State Dining Room. Ninety-two volunteers helped decorate the White House.

The official White House Christmas Tree, an 18 1/2-foot tall Fraser fir from North Carolina, was unveiled last week. The tree is adorned with ornaments hand-decorated by artists from around the country. One ornament features President-elect Barack Obama, CNN discovered while speaking the First Lady on Wednesday.

Bush is scheduled to host 25 receptions and seven dinners this holiday season. The menu for the receptions include smoked salmon with potato pancakes and chive creme fraiche, shaved Virginia ham with plum marmalade and spicy mustard, California avocados, grapefruit, and poached heart of palm with citrus-avocado vinaigrette and coconut cake with seven-minute frosting.

Bush and the First Lady are expected to send out 1,250,000 cards this Christmas.