Every Christmas season, American families watch the official lighting of the White House tree. However, a few times along the way, this great American tradition almost became extinct. Our 14th President, Franklin Pierce, was the first to display a Christmas tree at the White House. Ironically, after the 1856 celebration, the White House tree was more or less neglected for years. 

Enter President Benjamin Harrison, who loved Christmas and made the White House tree an American custom in 1889. Unfortunately, after developing a fear of electricity the following year, Harrison abruptly ended the custom of a tree decorated with electric lights. Washington fire officials were worried that a candle-lit tree might create a fire hazard inside the White House. And for a while, the White House Christmas tree was in limbo. 

Harrison eventually won his candle tree, but an electric tree did not appear in the White House until 1893 when Grover Cleveland was president. 

The next president, Theodore Roosevelt, promised voters he would do everything in his power “to save the nation’s forests before they were destroyed by greedy men.” Therefore, in 1904, the White House tree was banned. 

Roosevelt felt if he set an example for the nation then trees would not be chopped down. Fortunately, Gifford Pinchot, Roosevelt’s chief adviser on forestry and later Pennsylvania’s governor, convinced the president that a system of crop rotation would assure the nation an abundant supply of trees. The ban was lifted. 

Since then, the American tradition of a live Christmas tree in the White House has remained alive. 

Is that what Christmas is all about? Can you have Christmas without a Christmas Tree? What is Christmas all about anyway? Here is the text of a Christmas message issued by President Reagan for Christmas 1987 that seems to answer some questions: “Christmas, as the carol tells us, is the most wonderful time of the year. We see it in the excited eyes of a child–an excitement easy to explain. What with the sights of brilliantly decorated trees, the sound of familiar hymns and songs, and tastes of fresh baked cookies and other treats, and above all the long-anticipated visit from St. Nick, Christmas for children is a time unlike any other. 

“That is true for grownups as well, of course; the joy and meaning of Christmas only deepens as we grow older. We still find pleasure in exchanging greetings and gifts, and we still delight in the warm and colorful images of the holiday. But we perceive ever more clearly, as did Scrooge, that the true beauty and wonder of the season lie in the Christmas spirit of giving of ourselves for others — the message of the Prince of Peace whose birth we celebrate. At Christmastime we accompany shepherds and Wise Men to the stable as of old, where we relearn the timeless and priceless lessons of love, humility and sacrifice, where we see the Christmas spirit as God’s love flowing through so many people all at once. This spirit of love, as simple as a spoken greeting and as profound as a changed heart, seems so full that it ceaselessly looks for ways to express its power. We respond to it best when we share it with family, friend or stranger–when we recognize that, under the sheltering evergreen branches of God’s love, all are family and no one is a stranger. When we do these things, when we visit the lonely or help those in need, when a family is reconciled, is truly what makes it the most wonderful time of the year.

“Nancy and I pray that peace and joy will reign in every home and every heart during this holy season. Merry Christmas, and may God’s blessing be upon us all.” 

As we move into another holiday season, why not look to help someone’s dream come true. It may surprise you how easy it may be. No matter how young or old a person may be they still have dreams. Someone said, “You are not old by chronological age, you are old when you give up on your dreams.” I have met a number of people who are secret dream makers in people’s lives. It’s the best gift you can give yourself. The best blessing you can ever have, is to be a blessing in somebody’s life. 

However you decide to celebrate this season through religious or non-religious traditions to those who celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Christmas please remember those less fortunate than you. In reality, in the Christian faith, Christmas gift giving goes back to God the Father’s stupendous gift of His only Begotten Son (John 3:16). The Christian’s response each Christmas should be, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (II Corinthians 9:15).

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

The Rev. Darrell W. Cummings is pastor of Bethlehem Apostolic Temple in Wheeling and Shiloh Apostolic Temple in Weirton.