THE STATE DINING ROOM
AND GINGERBREAD HOUSE
The setting for the White House's most elegant entertaining
is the State Dining Room where the famous George P. Healy portrait of Abraham
Lincoln hangsabove the mantle. During the holidays, the State Dining Room becomes
a festive scene of mixed greenery and burgundy ribbon; the dining table is graced
bylarge grapevine angels adorned with magnolia garland and ribbons.
 One
of the most popular White House decorations is showcased in the State Dining
Room; it is the traditional gingerbread house created by the White House PastryChefs.
This year, it is Santa's Victorian house and workshop, complete with Santa and
his sleighpreparing to take flight from the rooftop. Due to the extremely
large number of good boys andgirls this year, Santa is on his cell phone to
the President to ask permission for Socks, the Clintonfamily cat, to help distribute
gifts. In the workshop, Santa's elves are hard at work, surroundedby Santa suits
made of candy, marzipan and chocolate.
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