Posted: December 21, 2009 | Author: PacificEyeWitness.com | Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZPacific, Opinion & Commentary, US & Foreign Affairs | Tags: (Christophe, 18, 2009, aborigine, adult, Annual Event, army, artist, Arts Culture and Entertainment, assistant, attend, attending, background, barack, boys, Brack/Pool, british culture, British Royalty, BruniSarkozy, Business, candle, capital cities, Carla, celebration, Celebrities, center, ceremony, child, children, christmas, Christmas in Washington, cigarette, city, claus, clock, conductor, crowd, daughters, David Jones, December, decoration, decorations, delivered, department, dressed, Elizabeth Ii, ellipse, elves, Elysee, england, entertainment, Eric, event, executive branch, family, Featuring, finance, first, France, french, friday, gallery, Glenn, Gloria, government, greets, hat, helped, holiday, homelessness, honor, horizontal, horse racing, host, house, Human Interest, illuminated, Imperial War Museum, indian, jockey, John F. Kennedy, joined, lady, leisure, lighting, lights, line, Listening, london, Malia, Mansion House, meeting, men, merchandise, Michael Rodd, Michelle, michelle obama, Mrs, national, near, news, Newscom, Nicolas, november, obama, Obama's, official, pacific, palace, paris, People, Performance, period, photo, playing, Politics, Portrait, pose, preparation, presents, president, Preview, Prince Harry, public holiday, public service, radio, reading, ready, religion, religious festival, religious holiday, retail, riding, Rockettes, royalty, santa, santa claus, Sarkozy, Sasha, seen, Shannon Noll, shiny, shoe, shopping, Singer, Spectacular, spirituality, store, story, Sundback, surrounding, sydney, Tacita Dean, talking, thanks, the, toy, Traditional Culture, train, tree, trumpet, UK, us, usa, volunteers, washington, washington dc, white, White House, wife, winning, women |
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LONDON, ENGLAND: Christmas shoppers pack Oxford Street on December 19, 2009. The last weekend before Christmas is expected to be the busiest of the year as many high street retailers hold sales and are discounting many goods to lure customers. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
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Christmas shoppers pack Oxford Street on December 19, 2009 in London, England.
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Prince Harry attends the Night of Heroes ceremony to honour British troops at the Imperial War Museum on December 15, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
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A gallery assistant lights the candles on the 2009 Tate Britain Christmas Tree which was designed by artist Tacita Dean and is entitled ‘Weihnachtsbaum’ on December 10, 2009 in London, England. The 4 meter high Nordman Fir is decorated with beeswax candles which will be lit between 4pm and 6pm until December 23, 2009. It is the 22nd year that the Tate Britain has commissioned a leading contemporary artist to create a Christmas tree for the gallery. Previously commissioned artists include Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas and Mark Wallinger. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images).
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KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN
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British Prime Minister Gordon Brown chats to troops on December 13, 2009 in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. Gordon Brown travelled to Afghanistan for an unannounced pre-Christmas visit to British troops which was followed by talks with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai. During the visit he stated his admiration for the work undertaken by British troops in the region and emphasised that the coming months would be ‘critical’ in combating the Taliban. He is the first British Prime Minister to have stayed overnight in a combat zone since Winston Churchill. (Photo by Matt Cardy-WPA Pool/Getty Images).
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Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) looks on as President Hamid Karzai speaks at a press conference ar Kandahar Airbase on December 13, 2009 in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
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Afghan men attend a cock-fighting tournament on a cold winter’s day in Kabul, December 18, 2009 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Cock fighting, a popular game amongst Afghans during the winter season, and similar traditional blood sports are facing a resurgence after being banned under the Taliban for being un-Islamic. (Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)
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PARIS, FRANCE
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Christmas tree ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on December 16, 2009. Photo by Christophe Guibbaud/ABACAPRESS.COM
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French First lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy hosts the Christmas tree ceremony
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French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.
WATSON, AUSTRALIA
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Aboriginal children wait for Santa Claus on December 4, 2009 in Watson, Australia. The Great Southern Railway’s Indian Pacific travels the 4,352km between Sydney and Perth twice a week, crossing three states and includes the world’s longest stretch of straight railway track on the Nullarbor Plain. Now in its ninth year, the Indian Pacific Outback Christmas Journey takes 65 hours to reach its destination while travelling through the Australian Outback to support remote regional communities as well as the Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service. (Photo by Ashlee Ralla/Getty Images)
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Singer Shannon Noll, Steven Down and Christopher Kamzelas perform for a crowd of people that have travelled up to four hours to meet the Indian Pacific on December 4, 2009 in Watson, Australia. (Photo by Ashlee Ralla/Getty Images).
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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
A homeless man has a cigarette outside a retail store in Pitt Street Mall during the Christmas shopping period on December 19, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. Shops have been warned by the Retail Traders Association that spending is expected to be down this year on last, and to brace for a quieter festive shopping period. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images).
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A young boy wearing a santa hat plays a trumpet outside David Jones department store in Pitt Street Mall during the Christmas shopping period on December 19, 2009.
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A homeless shoe shine sign is seen in Pitt Street Mall as Sydney prepares for Christmas on December 15, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images).
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
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Jockey Michael Rodd riding We’re Gonna Rock crosses the line to win Race Two Fiesta Star Handicap during the Flemington Christmas Raceday meeting at Flemington Racecourse on December 19, 2009. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images).
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
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People view the Xmas lights on the houses down Franklin Road on December 19, 2009 in Auckland, New Zealand. Every year in December the residents of Franklin Road turn on their Christmas lights drawing large crowds from around Auckland and beyond. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images).
WASHINGTON, USA
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As the White House is lit in the background, the National Christmas Tree’s lights are turned on during its annual lighting ceremony at the Ellipse December 3, 2009 in Washington, DC. Lighting the National Christmas Tree is a yearly tradition for the President of the United State during the holiday season. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images).
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Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) (L) and Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK) participate in a news conference on health care on Capitol Hill on December 18, 2009 in Washington, DC. Senate Democrats said they would like to see a health care reform bill pass in the Senate before Christmas despite efforts from Senate Republican who said they will do everything they can to delay passage of any health care legislation. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
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U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama pose with children dressed as elves during the Christmas in Washington celebration in Washington, on December 13, 2009. UPI/Joshua Roberts/Pool Photo via Newscom.
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U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama speak at the conclusion of the Christmas in Washington celebration in Washington, on December 13, 2009. UPI/Joshua Roberts/Pool Photo via Newscom
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A performance of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes is seen at the Verizon Center in Washington on December 18, 2009. UPI/Alexis C. Glenn Photo.
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U.S. First lady Michelle Obama reads the story ‘The Night Before Christmas’ to children during the annual National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse December 3, 2009 in Washington, DC. Lighting the National Christmas Tree is a yearly tradition for the President of the United State during the holiday season. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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U.S. President Barack Obama greets Santa and Mrs. Claus at the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. UPI/Dennis Brack/Pool Photo.
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First Lady Michelle Obama presents the Christmas decorations thanks volunteers who helped ready the White House for Christmas, in Washington, DC, on December 2, 2009. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT) Photo via Newscom.
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The Red Room is seen during the media preview of the White House holiday decorations December 2, 2009 at the White House in Washington, DC. The theme for the 2009 White House holiday decorations is ‘Reflect Rejoice Renew.’ (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images).
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The official White House Christmas Tree, a Douglas Fir stands 18 1/2 feet high and nearly 13 feet wide, is seen in the Blue Room.
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The annual gingerbread house sits in the State Dining Room.
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A replica of the White House vegetable garden is placed on the annual gingerbread house in the State Dining Room.
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White House Pastry Chef Bill Yosses talks about the annual gingerbread house in the State Dining Room.
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Decorations are seen surrounding a portrait of John F. Kennedy on the State Floor during the media preview of the White House holiday decorations December 2, 2009.
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U.S. first lady Michelle Obama speaks as Marine Corps Lieutenant General Peter Osman (Ret.) (R), President and CEO of the Toys for Tots program, listens during the media preview of the White House holiday decorations December 2, 2009 at the White House in Washington, DC.
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First lady Michelle Obama is joined by daughters Sasha and Malia as the official White House Christmas Tree is delivered by Eric and Gloria Sundback on Friday, November 27, 2009, in Washington, DC. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT).
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Eric (R) and Gloria Sundback of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, wait to welcome the official White House Christmas Tree at the North Portico of the White House on November 27, 2009 in Washington, DC. They donated the 18 and a half foot Douglas fir, which will stand in the Blue Room throughout the holidays. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images).
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Photos: Around the World in the Month of Christmas
Posted: December 21, 2009 | Author: PacificEyeWitness.com | Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZPacific, Opinion & Commentary, US & Foreign Affairs | Tags: (Christophe, 18, 2009, aborigine, adult, Annual Event, army, artist, Arts Culture and Entertainment, assistant, attend, attending, background, barack, boys, Brack/Pool, british culture, British Royalty, BruniSarkozy, Business, candle, capital cities, Carla, celebration, Celebrities, center, ceremony, child, children, christmas, Christmas in Washington, cigarette, city, claus, clock, conductor, crowd, daughters, David Jones, December, decoration, decorations, delivered, department, dressed, Elizabeth Ii, ellipse, elves, Elysee, england, entertainment, Eric, event, executive branch, family, Featuring, finance, first, France, french, friday, gallery, Glenn, Gloria, government, greets, hat, helped, holiday, homelessness, honor, horizontal, horse racing, host, house, Human Interest, illuminated, Imperial War Museum, indian, jockey, John F. Kennedy, joined, lady, leisure, lighting, lights, line, Listening, london, Malia, Mansion House, meeting, men, merchandise, Michael Rodd, Michelle, michelle obama, Mrs, national, near, news, Newscom, Nicolas, november, obama, Obama's, official, pacific, palace, paris, People, Performance, period, photo, playing, Politics, Portrait, pose, preparation, presents, president, Preview, Prince Harry, public holiday, public service, radio, reading, ready, religion, religious festival, religious holiday, retail, riding, Rockettes, royalty, santa, santa claus, Sarkozy, Sasha, seen, Shannon Noll, shiny, shoe, shopping, Singer, Spectacular, spirituality, store, story, Sundback, surrounding, sydney, Tacita Dean, talking, thanks, the, toy, Traditional Culture, train, tree, trumpet, UK, us, usa, volunteers, washington, washington dc, white, White House, wife, winning, women | Leave a comment[picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=christmas&iid=7411489″ src=”0/b/f/8/High_Streets_Prepare_bdbc.jpg?adImageId=8486810&imageId=7411489″ width=”500″ height=”324″ /]
LONDON, ENGLAND: Christmas shoppers pack Oxford Street on December 19, 2009. The last weekend before Christmas is expected to be the busiest of the year as many high street retailers hold sales and are discounting many goods to lure customers. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
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Christmas shoppers pack Oxford Street on December 19, 2009 in London, England.
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Prince Harry attends the Night of Heroes ceremony to honour British troops at the Imperial War Museum on December 15, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
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A gallery assistant lights the candles on the 2009 Tate Britain Christmas Tree which was designed by artist Tacita Dean and is entitled ‘Weihnachtsbaum’ on December 10, 2009 in London, England. The 4 meter high Nordman Fir is decorated with beeswax candles which will be lit between 4pm and 6pm until December 23, 2009. It is the 22nd year that the Tate Britain has commissioned a leading contemporary artist to create a Christmas tree for the gallery. Previously commissioned artists include Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas and Mark Wallinger. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images).
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KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN
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British Prime Minister Gordon Brown chats to troops on December 13, 2009 in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. Gordon Brown travelled to Afghanistan for an unannounced pre-Christmas visit to British troops which was followed by talks with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai. During the visit he stated his admiration for the work undertaken by British troops in the region and emphasised that the coming months would be ‘critical’ in combating the Taliban. He is the first British Prime Minister to have stayed overnight in a combat zone since Winston Churchill. (Photo by Matt Cardy-WPA Pool/Getty Images).
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Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) looks on as President Hamid Karzai speaks at a press conference ar Kandahar Airbase on December 13, 2009 in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
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Afghan men attend a cock-fighting tournament on a cold winter’s day in Kabul, December 18, 2009 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Cock fighting, a popular game amongst Afghans during the winter season, and similar traditional blood sports are facing a resurgence after being banned under the Taliban for being un-Islamic. (Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)
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PARIS, FRANCE
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Christmas tree ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on December 16, 2009. Photo by Christophe Guibbaud/ABACAPRESS.COM
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French First lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy hosts the Christmas tree ceremony
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French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.
WATSON, AUSTRALIA
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Aboriginal children wait for Santa Claus on December 4, 2009 in Watson, Australia. The Great Southern Railway’s Indian Pacific travels the 4,352km between Sydney and Perth twice a week, crossing three states and includes the world’s longest stretch of straight railway track on the Nullarbor Plain. Now in its ninth year, the Indian Pacific Outback Christmas Journey takes 65 hours to reach its destination while travelling through the Australian Outback to support remote regional communities as well as the Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service. (Photo by Ashlee Ralla/Getty Images)
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Singer Shannon Noll, Steven Down and Christopher Kamzelas perform for a crowd of people that have travelled up to four hours to meet the Indian Pacific on December 4, 2009 in Watson, Australia. (Photo by Ashlee Ralla/Getty Images).
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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
A homeless man has a cigarette outside a retail store in Pitt Street Mall during the Christmas shopping period on December 19, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. Shops have been warned by the Retail Traders Association that spending is expected to be down this year on last, and to brace for a quieter festive shopping period. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images).
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A young boy wearing a santa hat plays a trumpet outside David Jones department store in Pitt Street Mall during the Christmas shopping period on December 19, 2009.
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A homeless shoe shine sign is seen in Pitt Street Mall as Sydney prepares for Christmas on December 15, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images).
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
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Jockey Michael Rodd riding We’re Gonna Rock crosses the line to win Race Two Fiesta Star Handicap during the Flemington Christmas Raceday meeting at Flemington Racecourse on December 19, 2009. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images).
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
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People view the Xmas lights on the houses down Franklin Road on December 19, 2009 in Auckland, New Zealand. Every year in December the residents of Franklin Road turn on their Christmas lights drawing large crowds from around Auckland and beyond. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images).
WASHINGTON, USA
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As the White House is lit in the background, the National Christmas Tree’s lights are turned on during its annual lighting ceremony at the Ellipse December 3, 2009 in Washington, DC. Lighting the National Christmas Tree is a yearly tradition for the President of the United State during the holiday season. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images).
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Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) (L) and Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK) participate in a news conference on health care on Capitol Hill on December 18, 2009 in Washington, DC. Senate Democrats said they would like to see a health care reform bill pass in the Senate before Christmas despite efforts from Senate Republican who said they will do everything they can to delay passage of any health care legislation. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
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U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama pose with children dressed as elves during the Christmas in Washington celebration in Washington, on December 13, 2009. UPI/Joshua Roberts/Pool Photo via Newscom.
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U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama speak at the conclusion of the Christmas in Washington celebration in Washington, on December 13, 2009. UPI/Joshua Roberts/Pool Photo via Newscom
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A performance of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes is seen at the Verizon Center in Washington on December 18, 2009. UPI/Alexis C. Glenn Photo.
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U.S. First lady Michelle Obama reads the story ‘The Night Before Christmas’ to children during the annual National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse December 3, 2009 in Washington, DC. Lighting the National Christmas Tree is a yearly tradition for the President of the United State during the holiday season. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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U.S. President Barack Obama greets Santa and Mrs. Claus at the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. UPI/Dennis Brack/Pool Photo.
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First Lady Michelle Obama presents the Christmas decorations thanks volunteers who helped ready the White House for Christmas, in Washington, DC, on December 2, 2009. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT) Photo via Newscom.
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The Red Room is seen during the media preview of the White House holiday decorations December 2, 2009 at the White House in Washington, DC. The theme for the 2009 White House holiday decorations is ‘Reflect Rejoice Renew.’ (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images).
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The official White House Christmas Tree, a Douglas Fir stands 18 1/2 feet high and nearly 13 feet wide, is seen in the Blue Room.
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The annual gingerbread house sits in the State Dining Room.
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A replica of the White House vegetable garden is placed on the annual gingerbread house in the State Dining Room.
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White House Pastry Chef Bill Yosses talks about the annual gingerbread house in the State Dining Room.
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Decorations are seen surrounding a portrait of John F. Kennedy on the State Floor during the media preview of the White House holiday decorations December 2, 2009.
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U.S. first lady Michelle Obama speaks as Marine Corps Lieutenant General Peter Osman (Ret.) (R), President and CEO of the Toys for Tots program, listens during the media preview of the White House holiday decorations December 2, 2009 at the White House in Washington, DC.
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First lady Michelle Obama is joined by daughters Sasha and Malia as the official White House Christmas Tree is delivered by Eric and Gloria Sundback on Friday, November 27, 2009, in Washington, DC. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT).
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Eric (R) and Gloria Sundback of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, wait to welcome the official White House Christmas Tree at the North Portico of the White House on November 27, 2009 in Washington, DC. They donated the 18 and a half foot Douglas fir, which will stand in the Blue Room throughout the holidays. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images).