The Obamas’ Recycled Holiday Festoons

Reflect. Rejoice. Renew.

That was First Lady Michelle Obama’s mantra for this year’s famous White House holiday decorations.

Mrs. Obama hedged on the side of efficiency for the White House’s annual holiday decorations. Instead of filling the mansion with an obscene amount of tinsel, lights and brand new Christmas decor, Michelle opted to use recycled ornaments from the White House’s warehouse of Christmas clutter.

First Lady Michelle Obama used earthy "woodland" colors - brown, gold, cinnamon and claret - to decorate the main halls of the White House mansion. Photo: Flickr/afagen

“We took about 800 ornaments left over from previous administrations, we sent them to 60 local community groups throughout the country, and asked them to decorate them to pay tribute to a favorite local landmark and then send them back to us for display here at the White House,” said Mrs. Obama, as reported by People magazine.

According to White House officials, the First Lady went back to the basics concerning the decor, a reflection of both rocky economic times and a special acknowledgment of the Obamas’ commitment to environmentalism.

“For the Obama family, Christmas and the New Year has always been a time to reflect on our many blessings, to rejoice in the pleasure of spending time with our family and our friends, and to renew our commitment to one another and to the causes that we believe in,” the First Lady said.

No word yet on if the seven Christmas trees (one of which includes and 18-and-a-half foot Douglas fir) that adorn the foyer and Cross Hall will be recycled once the holidays are over.