In the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sold Christmas trees to local residents from his own estate.

Each year, thousands of trees were planted on Roosevelt's land in Hyde Park, New York.

In the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sold Christmas trees to local residents from his own estate.
In the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sold Christmas trees to local residents from his own estate.

During his time in office, Franklin D. Roosevelt and his family and White House staff had numerous Christmas traditions they followed.

Throughout his life, Roosevelt remained rooted in Hyde Park, New York, where he was born in 1882.

In 1910, Roosevelt began his political career by being elected to the New York Senate.

In 1912, he became the chairman of the New York Senate's Forestry Committee.

For 34 years, he planted trees on his land, as stated on the National Park Service website.

Franklin D. Roosevelt in a car smiling
Thousands of trees were planted annually during Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency on his land in Hyde Park, New York. (NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

According to the National Park Service, by the 1930s, Roosevelt was planting between 20,000 to 55,000 trees on his land annually.

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, Roosevelt started growing Christmas trees on his estate in Hyde Park during the 1930s.

According to the National Park Service, some of the Christmas trees grown on the estate were sent to Winston Churchill.

During Roosevelt's presidency, the White House exuded holiday cheer.

While in the White House, Roosevelt, who served as president for 12 years, spent many of his Christmases in the same manner.

Christmas decorations in the White House
Roosevelt put a lot of effort into holiday festivities each year. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

According to the White House Historical Association, Roosevelt spent 10 consecutive Christmases in the White House, and the last two at home in Hyde Park.

The source states that a Roosevelt Christmas tradition included a Christmas Eve party hosted by the president and first lady for White House staff, as well as the lighting of the National Christmas Tree.

In 1933, Roosevelt delivered his first holiday address, known as the "fireside chat," to the nation.

The president typically spent Christmas morning with family, attending services and unwrapping presents with his grandchildren.

According to the White House Historical Association, the annual Christmas feast featured dishes such as roasted turkey, chestnut dressing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, pineapple salad, and included plum pudding, eggnog, ice cream, and cakes for dessert.

The Roosevelt family on Christmas
Roosevelt spent the holidays with his growing family throughout the years he was president. (Getty Images)

The Great Depression, the attack on Pearl Harbor, and World War II occurred during Roosevelt's lengthy presidency.

In the midst of turmoil, Christmas traditions underwent a change. For instance, during World War II, four of Roosevelt's sons were serving in the military, as per the White House Historical Association, causing his family to be scattered across the world.

In 1942, employees of the White House received a black leather folder filled with war savings bonds as their holiday gift, while in 1944, a scroll containing the president's "D-Day" prayer was distributed.

In 1944, Roosevelt delivered his final Christmas message from his Hyde Park residence.

The White House Association stated that the spirit of Christmas, which is the holy day of peace, should be upheld. They pray that with victory, a new era of peace will be established on earth, where all nations will unite for eternity. The hope is that this spirit will continue to thrive and expand globally in the years to come.

by Ashlyn Messier

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