Use the White House Christmas Packet, read "The Lincoln Family Christmas" and then turn to the following page and choose one Discussion Question to answer and one Writing Prompt to response to on the blog. PLEASE proofread your answers to ensure complete sentences and thoughts, stellar grammar and spelling, and correct capitalization.
If you are interested, click on the following link to view some of the decorations at the White House. (http://dc.about.com/od/christmasphotos/ss/ChristWhiteHous.htm)
Discussion Question 4: The war affected Christmas at the White House because there was not much happiness in the White House which made it hard to celebrate the holidays.
ReplyDeleteWriting Prompt Question 1: I think the Christmas tradition should keep happening at the White House even though some of the population isn't Christian. The only way it wouldn't happen is if the President wasn't Christian and didn't want Christmas to happen.
Writing Prompt #5) I pick the question "Imagine you were a child during Abraham Lincoln's presidency. What kinds of things might you find in your Christmas stocking? How is that different from what you might find in a stocking today?
ReplyDeleteDuring Lincoln's presidency, on December 24, 1860 a store register recorded that Lincoln's purchase was a womens's linen handkerchief, a gentlemen silk handkerchiefs and a childerens silk handkerchief.
Today you would find: candy, gift cards, toys and ect... This is WAY! different from when Lincoln was in his presidency.
Discussion Question 4. If war was going on around the time of Christmas, the president or cabinet would be more consumed in working out plans for battle. Or the president might be worried about his troops than Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWriting Prompt 1. I think Christmas should continue because it's just coming together with family and having a good time, and getting presents of course. Not a lot of non-religious people care that Christmas is a certain religious event. Some other religions have their own version of Christmas lake Hanukkah and Kwanza etc.
Discussion Question #4: Roslyn Carter depending on her friend to create the White House image used in their 1977 Christmas card.
ReplyDeleteThe Reagan's invited a young artist to paint the Executive Mansion for their Christmas cards.
Bush(41) featured the Oval Office and the White House in there 1991 Christmas card.
Writing Prompts #1: I think they should continue with the Christmas traditions even though a lot of the population isn't Christan because most people celebrate Christmas even though they aren't Christan for the presents. They don't really understand the holiday for the Christan reason, but they just celebrate it to give there kids Santa presents and something to look forward to in December. Just because it is the start of winter, and kids need some joy in their life to get by being happy.
Discussion Question 4. War affected Christmas at the White House for many reasons. When the Civil War came, many people didn't even celebrate Christmas. George Washington, our first president, didn't celebrate Christmas because he was crossing the Delaware River during a time of war.
ReplyDeleteWriting Prompt 1. I think Christmas should continue in the white house even if a large percentage of people aren't Christian. I think it gives our nation a sign of hope and peace. Christmas is also a good family gathering holiday.
Discussion question 4. War forced the trees to have less steel and stuff that could be used for the war effort on it. Whey also didn't have lights on them so they could save electricity.
ReplyDeleteWriting prompts 1. Yes because it the presidents choice if he wants to have one or not and it doesn't effect freedom of religion because no one is forcing you to celebrate Christmas.
Son Eddie had died in 1850. They left him a empty chair and the White House had continuing worries over the next three Christmas seasons.
ReplyDeleteIf I were a child when he was a president I would probably find a toy from Stuntz Toy Store, wooden toys,handkerchiefs.its different from what you get now because I get like nail polish, make up, socks headbands money gift cards pretty much anything that is small and will fit in a stocking.
Discussion Question:
ReplyDeleteObviously, with Civil War in the United States of America and many soldiers dieing every day from both sides, many people, including the President, are focused on the war and don't really feel like celebrating. Abraham Lincoln felt that people in his Cabinet members should work on Christmas day. Abe himself worked on Christmas day trying to make his country a whole and not two pieces.
Writing Prompt:
I am not sure if the White House should continue Christmas traditions because yes, they are traditions that our founding fathers have started, and it's a part of American history, but it isn't fair for non-Christian people. It also, in a way, shows favoritism. By saying that the leader of our country is Christian, which is fine, people who aren't Christian are "not as important".
Question 4: How did war affect Christmas at the White House?
ReplyDeleteAnswer: The Lincolns did not do much for decorating. Like most Americans at the time, they had other things to do. The Civil War was raging and Lincoln had the task of stopping it. His wife helped with wounded solders and the Lincolns were donating to the solders. Most of what Lincoln did was not widely publicized. Lincoln's son Wille died and was left with his other son, Tad. He bought him wood carved custom solders and other wood toys. He did this because he thought he deserved to have them and that his other son Willie could not get to enjoy them. Most of what the Lincolns did for Christmas is not known.
discussion question #5- the white house celebration reflects different things about each president and each time period because during wartime Lincoln visited wounded soldiers in a hospital. Some presidents didn't celebrate that much at all.The materials do make a statement because Santa is now popular, but bake the mid 19th century he wasn't invented.
ReplyDeleteWriting Prompts #1- I think it should because some traditions shouldn't be broken. If you're a president that is christian he deserves to celebrate his own holiday.
Discussion Question
ReplyDelete1.What does the theme chosen for the white house tree say about the president or first lady? Does the theme reflect more about the first lady and her interest?
The them chosen for the tree shows the veiws of the first lady and what she thinks Christmas is. Yes the theme reflects more of the first lady interest becuse the first lady is in charge of decerating the tree.
Writing prompts
1. Should the white house continue with Christmas traditions given that a large population is not Christian.
Yes,because for some people Christmas is not religon based it is simply about giving gifts and being with your family. Also Christmas trees have nothing to do with religo it is simply a fun tradition. I feel that practsing such traditions should be incureged in the white house.
Discussion Question
ReplyDelete4. War affected Christmas at the White House because the First Lady spent Christmas between 1861-1864 caring for the wounded soldiers at the hospitals. Gifts were sent from Lincoln to area hospitals for Christmas. Mr. ans Mrs. Lincoln visited Washington hospitals on Christmas Day.
Writing prompts
3.A tradition is something that you start and you can either pass it down or you can just do a special thing every year. One of my families tradition for Christmas is we always do a gift exchange and we draw names for that at Thanksgiving time. We continue this tradition because its always fun to see what we make or get each other other then just what are parents or grandparents might get us. I do think family traditions are important because its something that you might always remember and might pass down to your family.
Question number 4. How did war affect Christmas at the white house? Well the cost of war guns, uniforms, food, trucks, cars, tanks, and other stuff was a great cost. So it made it hard to buy Christmas orament cause of the cost. 3 world War with President Truman was very hard on the Country with no sons, dauthers, fathers or mothers home for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWriting Prompt #1: I think that the president can do it if he or she wants to. Freedom of religion is permitted so if it is then they should be allowed to practiced there own traditions (within reason). Christianity should not be left out.
ReplyDelete(PART 2 of first commet.)
I did discussion question #3.
ReplyDeleteKennedy:
President Kennedy did a Christmas card. He decoraded it with a smooth white card with wide green silk screen border.
Nixon:
he also did a Christmas card. i was a red framed and had a image of the white house.
Roosevelt:
he mad a Christmas car to.his cards are often photographs of the white house.
I think that we should do this like make a card and add some history in it. Christmas History Card!! :)
Writing Prompts #1
I think that they should. i say that it doesn't mater you religon. just the thought and being happy. the fun. the sharing of gifts to show your love for each other.
how did the war affect the white house.like if the president had to go to military matters.why should the white house have christmas. that it is one of american traditions.
ReplyDeletehow did the war affect the White house?: The war affected the White house by there was not much happiness and they couldn't celebrate as easy.
ReplyDeleteShould the White house continue with Christmas traditions given that a large percentage of the American population is not Christian?: Yes, i think you should celebrate any holidays that you believe in. And if you did not believe in Christmas you should not celebrate it.
Discussion question #4. Lincoln was saddened by the war and the loss of his son and during WW2 there was shortages of supplies. There were no supplies for lights at times and shortages of food also.
ReplyDeleteWriting Prompt #1. The white house should continue to pursue the tradition of Christmas because it's not all about the reliegon but that it teaches people to give. It is also an American tradition.
Q#3. Kennedy did a card with the presidential seal and the words "season's greetings" on a smooth white card with a green silk boarder.
ReplyDeleteJohnson did a plain white card with a thin red boarder and had the presidential seal on it.
Nixon did a card framed with red and had the image of the White House.
P#1. I think that they should continue but for the other non Christians should have a card based on there religion and that the card for the non Christians a store or some place that would sell them for like .50-1.00
Discussion 1.The Johnson's and Carter's both used gingerbread cookies to decorate the trees. Ford and bush's tree both had homemade things.
ReplyDeleteWriting Prompt 1. Yes the white house should continue with the holiday traditions. They should because with Christmas most people don't even mention christianity. What would we do for the holiday season then?
Question Four;
ReplyDeleteWar effected Christmas in the White House because there was no electric lighting of the national lighting Christmas tree. Instead, they used chimes. Also, the First Lady spent her Christmas helping the wounded during war, so it wasn't celebrated the same way as it was before. Less decorations and more helping the wounded was probably the focus that a Christmas.
Writing Prompt One;
I believe they should keep it a tradition because even if most of the population is not Christian, it is a tradition, and traditions should be kept. Maybe if the president is not Christian, they can celebrate it differently, but they should still keep it.
Discussion Question 3. War affected the white house in one example in 1979 President Carter chosed to leave the tree dark to mark the 50 American hostages held in Iran.
ReplyDeleteWriting Prompt 1. Yes because it has been going on for a long time, and it is not like we are telling them to watch it or listen to it. If you don't like it you can get out.
Discussion question #4:
ReplyDeleteWar affected the White House Christmas especially during the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln rarely celebrated Christmas due to the fact that he had more important manners that had to be dealt with. After Savannah was captured from the Union, he had been sent a letter from Sherman that said this, "I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition and also about about 25,000 bales of cotton." This proves that Lincoln had more important things to be dealt with on Christmas.
Writing Prompt #1:
I believe they should continue to have Christmas as long as it is their religion. If the president is Christian, then they should be able to celebrate Christmas freely. This falls under Freedom of Religion. If they're Buddhist or some other religion, then they shouldn't have to celebrate it themselves, but still allow others to freely celebrate Christmas.
Discussion Questions
ReplyDelete3. Kennedy, who had been assassinated in 1963 was not always seen at the lighting of the tree.
Johnson, lit a Christmas tree in the memory of John F. Kennedy
Carter, vowed that all the lights would be turned on when all the hostages were all set free
Writing prompts
1. I think they should because they can show that they care about there holidays and will continue there tradition no matter what.
1. The Civil War effected the White house in many ways. One year Licoln's wife donated 1000 dollars to the war for food. Every year on Christmas Lincoln went and saw a lot of the people who got injured from the war.
ReplyDelete2. I think the White House should continue with whatever tradition that family has for December. If not everyone is Christian, you can't force that tradition on someone who hasn't had the tradition
Discussion question 4.
ReplyDeleteWar affected Christmas in the white house because, with a war going on President Lincoln could not pay much attention to family or holiday matters. This being because there is a war in our country he had to focus on making the country united with each other, strong and independent.
Writing Prompt question 1.
Yes. The White House should continue with the Christmas celebrations because its our countries winter holiday (if you celebrate it) and our founding fathers all celebrated this holiday. Why would we want to ruin this tradition?
Discussion Question #2
ReplyDeleteI believe that the theme that the President of First Lady chooses tell use a lot about who they are cause it has too be something important for it too be on the tree. I personally think that the theme would reflect back on both the president and the first lady because they should agree on something that they both can agree means something too both of them. Like Reagan chose wooden gingerbread cookies ornaments and state balls..... and he the president so the states means something too him.
Writing Prompt #1
I think that the white house should continue with the Christmas traditions because its a good tradition it gits up the Christmas spirit. Also just because what the religon is shouldn't matter because no one should judge by how some one fills for something or there religoin.
Discussion Question #4
ReplyDelete-At this time war was still going on, obviously. So, Lincoln needed to go back to military basses for military matters. But on Christmas Day both Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln visited all the injured in Washington hospital.
Writing Prompt #1
-I can see it both ways...If some Americans are or aren't christian I think the President should still celebrate Christmas if him and his family were Christian and bealeved in Christmas. But if there were so many strong beliefs about the President not celebrating then her can choose what he wanted to do with his family. I think it would be amazing to full-fill everyone's holiday beliefs and the President could do like a Hanukkah,Kwanza,Christmas,etc. all during the month. I don't know I personally think that whatever the president has grown up doing during the holiday season is what he should do no matter what others think he should do.:)
1. War affected Christmas at the Whitehouse during Lincoln's term by stopping the tree lighting ceramony. during his term historians think that they didnt participate in regular christmas traditions back then.
ReplyDelete2.a tradition is something that your family does at an event that they have done for a long time. One of our family traditions is when you give somebody a present you cover it in duct tape. This has been in my dads family for a long time and he has kept doing it every year. We still do it because it is funny to watch them try to open the box and it take them forever. I think traditions are important because it keeps family's together and so they can communicate.
Discuss Question(4): How the war affected Christmas is that a lot of people had fears and worries of war so most Christmases were kind of in fear than joy.
ReplyDeleteWriting Prompt(3):A tradition is an action or series of actions that keep going through each generation. Holiday traditions in my house are pretty simple. We put up a tree in the living room, my room and the basement. We have about 18 tubs full of Christmas decor. We have a Christmas meal involving games after eating. How they started was just my grandparents were doing these things since they were little. Why we keep doing these things is it kind of feels weird if we don't do these traditions. I do think family tradition are important because it helps you get together and spend time with your relatives.
1. The theme chosen says what your beliefs are or what you really care about. The theme reflects more on the first lady because the president is reflected on what they do to help our country. The Ford tree was recycled and handmade decorations. This means the Fords care about the planet.
ReplyDelete2. I believe Christmas traditions should continue because at the white house it's very little religion. Also it is a tradition and, it shows what we care about and how the people are important.
Discussion Questions:
ReplyDelete2. Most of the time the theme chosen for the White House tree says how the Nation is, honoring someone for doing something, or a theme the First Lady particularly enjoyed. Sometimes, the theme is more reflected on the First Lady's interests. For example, Nancy Reagan chose a Mother Goose theme, which most likely was not the interest of President Reagan. Yet in other cases, such as President Bush's tree (43) it reflected more on the nation, not the First Lady's interests.
Writing Prompts:
3. A tradition is something repeated over the years, for sentimental value, not necessarily for for a particular reason. One of the traditions we have in my family is making cookies every year, and setting them out for Santa. We open family presents on Christmas Eve, after Christmas Eve mass, and presents from Santa come in the morning. Another thing we do, White Elephant Gifts, is with our extended family, but a tradition all the same. We continue these not only because they are traditions, but also because it brings joy into our lives, and it brings us closer together as a family. I think family traditions are very important, it's one of the most fun parts of Christmas!
Discussion Question #4
ReplyDeleteThe war effected the White House Christmas because if the president couldn't be there with is family to celebrate Christmas at all then they wont have Christmas. The President will have to spend a lot of time figuring things out with the war and wont have time for his family. The president would also have to donate lots of things to the war and wont be able to give anything to there family. The war also includes a lot of money.
Writing Prompts #4
At Lincoln Christmas he was not allowed to have any decorations or presents or customs because not everyone believed in celebrating it that way.
#3 Carter, Reagan, and Bush are being reflected.
ReplyDeleteAll presidents did Christmas cards. Bush, however, had a first. The Bush presidential family was first to picture their National Christmas Tree on there holiday card. Reagan had young artists paint there Christmas cards. Carter was relying on a family friend to make a picture for their hristmas card. For each president, the cards seem to advance a little bit more.
#3 I think a tradition is something that is carried out annually through the years. Often, celebrations consist of such traditions. The fun begins on Christmas Eve Day. Well, maybe just after the tree is put up. As soon as there is presents round the tree, I get to look for a pickle on the tree. When I find the pickle, I get to open one present. The pickle tradition started when I was in kindergarten because we studied the Old German tradition. We then open the rest of the present Christmas eve. More presents come the next morning from "Santa." This is the way we have always done it and this is the way we probably will forever more. I think family traditions could or could not be important. Sometimes a change can be nice. You should stick to a tradition until something even more enjoyable and thoughtful comes along.=D
i did discussion number 4:D
ReplyDeleteWar affected Christmas at the White House by. Making it hard on the President because he had to try and solve the war,and he did not have a lot of time to think about Christmas. The President also has a lot of stuff to do anyways.
i did writing prompts number 3:p
One of my family traditions is that we get to open one present a night early. But you have to wait to take it out until the next morning. Its is supposed to make you want it more has my mom says. we continue this because my mom did it when she was little. Family traditions are important because you can be with your family and have fun. :D
discussion question #4 War hugely effects Christmas in the White House. It makes it so the president is thinking more about the war than what Christmas is truly about. It makes the President have to keep his guard up and work in Christmas. The president has to check up on people in the White House.
ReplyDeletewriting prompt #5 In stockings in Abraham Lincoln's time they mostly had wooden toys, such as toy soldiers.Now we have much better gifts. I usually get smaller things like candy in my stocking, and get big stuff wrapped as presents.
Discussion Question:
ReplyDelete4. war affected Christmas at the White House because it was a big obstacle. The president would be tied up with the war and wouldn't have time to be around family. Also, he wouldn't feel like celebrating if men in our country were still being killed. The war was also bad because there were soldiers being sent to the hospital so the First Lady would leave to comfort and help the injured. Everyone was separated with their duties to war.
Writing Prompt:
1. Yes, the White House should continue the Christmas traditions. I think mostly depends on what the First Family feels appropriate and believes in. If they believe small moderate decorations and parties are appropriate, then they should act on it. If the First Family is not Christian, which they usually are, they should celebrate they way they believe in. Also, celebrating Christmas, even though most of the country isn't Christian, will announce the First Family's views and religion.
Discussion Question #3
ReplyDelete1.President Johnson took office after John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Five days after he took office he was asked to make a Christmas card. That year the card was white with a thin red border and signed with the Presidential Seal. In 1967 the president and the first lady made a reproduction of and interior painting of the Blue Room with the Christmas tree in it.
2. The Roosevelt's chose to have pictures of the couple together in various places in the White House.
3. In 1969 the Nixon's card was framed with red and had a simple image of the White House on it. In 1971 Nixon used a historic picture, and after that the Nixon continued to use historic images.
Writing Prompts #1
I think that they should. Even though most of the population is not Christian it isn't up to the American population to decide. I think it matters most about how they feel about it. It's up to them and their beliefs. They have the right to chose whether or not they want to celebrate Christmas.
5.I think some of the themes went with the presidents favorite thing our maybe some event or to show the kind of person they were.that has happened. Bush's tree was"Home for the Holidays" and it was of historic houses. It could of been that he wanted to remember important people and things.
ReplyDelete1.I think the White House should continue with Christmas traditions because its been there since the 1900's. It would be neat to look back in history a hundred years from now and see how Christmas began and improved.
Discussion question #4. War affected Christmas at the White House because the Lincoln family spent Christmas at hospitals trying to cheer up wounded soldiers. They also were making hand-made gifts for the soldiers.
ReplyDeleteWriting Prompt #1. I do think the White House should continue to have Christmas traditions. The vast majority of Americans are Christians and it is cool to see how decorated the white House becomes.