The official White House Christmas Tree has come from Washington State only once, back in 1961.  It was a 75-foot tall Douglas Fir. I don’t think the above tree was it; Wikipedia said it was placed in the Ellipse.  (You can ask Grandma Google anything; I asked her “white house christmas tree from washington state” and from Wikipedia came an article listing each year this has been a tradition and from which state the tree came.)

Sugar Cookies  —  This addictive holiday essential was originated by the Amish and is now the Pennsylvania state cookie.  (Ask Grandma Google about other state’s cookies???)

Gingerbread Houses  —  Gingerbread dates back to Greece in the year 2400 B.C. and by the late Middle Ages Europeans had their own version. But Gingerbread HOUSES originated in Germany in the 1500s. The largest gingerbread house on record was erected in Bryan, Texas, in 2013. It required a building permit and covered 40,000 square feet and was constructed of 4000 gingerbread blocks. (Texas always has to be biggest.)

Eggnog  —  Eggnog derives from the British aristocracy. The wealthy drank warmed milk and egg beverages with expensive spices and brandy or sherry. The origin of the word nog is disputed but it may come from a noggin a kind of wooden mug. And did you know, December is National Eggnog month, so drink up!

Happy to be politically incorrect, I wish you all a Merry Christmas.