WASHINGTON — As Dillion and Ben, two Clydesdales, pulled an 18-and-a-half-foot Christmas tree in a green wagon up the driveway to the North Portico of the White House Monday afternoon, it was already clear something would be different about this 58-year-old tradition.

At the top of the driveway, first lady Jill Biden and an entourage of guests greeted the horses and accepted the tree from the Cartner family, North Carolina Christmas tree farmers who have grown Fraser firs at the family-owned and operated business in Newland since 1959.

Just moments before, White House officials announced that the Cartners named the tree, “Treemendous” to “represent everything good about humanity, about faith, hope and love, and family joy and all the wonderful things in our society.”

It’s the 16th time the White House chose a tree from North Carolina to decorate the White House, but this year held more significance.

North Carolina is the second largest producer of Christmas trees in the country, and 96% are grown in Western North Carolina, where the remnants of Hurricane Helene recently tore through 25 counties, killing 103 people.

Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm is located in Avery County, an area that experienced significant damage and five deaths due to the storm. Jim Cartner told McClatchy at the White House on Monday that his family lost around 6,000 trees in the storm.

But that didn’t stop White House officials from finding the perfect tree to anchor their Christmas parties.

“This tree recognizes your tremendous, tremendous strength and service,” Biden said as she accepted the tree. “In just a few days, volunteers from all over the country will pour in to transform this tree and decorate the entire White House — and out of the whirlwind of glitter and garlands will come warmth and comfort of the season. I can’t wait for you all to share in it.”

Jim, Sam and David Cartner watched with members of their family as Biden, and her grandson Beau, looked at their tree.

“We’re very honored to bring the tree, to represent North Carolina and all the other Christmas tree growers and people that lost so much in North Carolina,” said Sam Cartner. “We’re proud that we’re bringing a Fraser fir to represent all of those people.”

Jim Cartner said the trees on their farm destroyed in mudslides were smaller ones, giving them time to recuperate from the loss. He called it “fortunate” despite knowing how it could impact them in the years to come.

Still the family was thinking about others, asking for toy donations to be sent to Newland Presbyterian Church to help people from their community in need.

Decorating the White House Christmas tree

After the crowds dissipated, White House officials got to work immediately to bring the giant tree inside.

It will be placed in the Blue Room, a reception area for dignitaries that has hosted several weddings and a christening. It’s also the center of the White House’s holiday parties.

The tree will sit at the center of the room, filling the space with grandeur while leaving room to walk around and pose for photos, as well as space for a few standing tables by the windows to mingle at and look out over the South Lawn toward the Washington Monument.

Former President Franklin Pierce brought, in 1853, the first Christmas tree into the White House. But it wasn’t until 1966 that the National Christmas Tree Association began the tradition of having its annual grand champion grower give a tree to the first lady for the Blue Room.

In 2023, 98 other Christmas trees were decorated around the White House as the residence is transformed into a winter wonderland and opens its doors to around 100,000 guests for a bit of holiday magic. Each year, the first lady selects a theme that workers then use throughout the White House for decorating.

This year’s theme has not yet been announced.

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©2024 McClatchy Washington Bureau. Visit mcclatchydc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.