Hanukkah is not always celebrated in the White House.
While Christmas celebrations have been celebrated in American government since the 1800s, Jimmy Carter was the first president to recognize the holiday and lit a menorah in his honor in 1979.
The Secretary of the Interior during the Carter era initially refused to issue a license to place a menorah on the White House lawn on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment, which prohibits the enactment of laws that make any religion the state religion or favor one religion over another, preventing freedom of religion, according to the Washington Post.
But after one of Carter's advisers said in response that the Christmas tree should also be banned based on the same argument, the menorah was approved, and every president since then has celebrated the holiday.
David Ben-Gurion and Abba Evan present a menorah to President Harry Truman (Photo: GettyImages)
The first to celebrate Hanukkah.
Jimmy Carter (Photo: GettyImages)
A delegation of rabbis presented President Ronald Reagan with a menorah during a visit during the holiday in 1984.
Reagan maintained contact with Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, leader of the Chabad movement, and determined that his 80th birthday would be a national day of soul-searching.
President Ronald Reagan lights candles with a delegation of rabbis (Photo: GettyImages)
President George W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush learned to play the spinner at the White House in 1990.
The president invited children to light candles and play merry-go-rounds at the White House in honor of Hanukkah that year.
President George Bush Sr. lights candles with children (Photo: GettyImages)
President Bill Clinton celebrated Hanukkah in the Oval Office.
He also invited children from local schools and synagogues to light candles.
President George W.
Bush and First Lady Laura Bush hosted the first White House Hanukkah party in 2001.
They invited the staff members and their families to attend the ceremony.
Kosher food was served at the party, according to the New York Times.
President George Bush Jr. and his wife Laura (Photo: GettyImages)
President Barack Obama also hosted a Hanukkah party at the White House.
In 2013 the celebrations were split into two receptions: one in the afternoon and one in the evening.
Candles are lit in the White House with Barack Obama and Michelle (Photo: GettyImages)
President Donald Trump, whose daughter Ivanka converted when she married Jared Kushner, hosted Hanukkah receptions at the White House, but did not invite Democratic lawmakers.
In 2017, according to the New York Times, Trump broke with tradition by excluding Democrats from the guest list at what had until then been a bipartisan event.
In 2020, Hanukkah parties were held inside the White House contrary to the Corona regulations.
Stephanie Grisham, the then chief of staff to First Lady Melania Trump, told "Insider" that masks are mandatory and will be distributed at the event.
The chefs will serve the food through acrylic glass screens, hand sanitizer stations will be scattered throughout the hall, and the guest list will be reduced.
President Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka at a candlelight vigil (Photo: GettyImages)
Ivanka and her Jewish husband Jared Kushner at Hanukkah (Photo: GettyImages)
President Joe Biden and Jill in 2021 (Photo: GettyImages)
President Joe Biden, his deputy Kamala Harris and their spouses held a family celebration at the White House, alongside 150 guests.
"From our family to yours, and from the people's house to your homes, Jill and I wish you and your loved ones a happy Hanukkah!"
delivered in a statement by Biden.
Senate Majority Leader Chek Schumer and Harris' Jewish husband Doug Amhoff lit the candles
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