The beloved White House Christmas tradition Jackie Kennedy kicked off

This year, Jill Biden is once again partaking in a festive first lady tradition that dates back six decades: selecting a theme for the White House's Christmas decorations.

In November, Biden revealed the theme for the 2023 festive season at the White House is 'Magic, Wonder, and Joy'.

In a letter written by the First Lady, she said the decoration "is designed to capture the pure, unfiltered delight and imagination of childhood, and encourage visitors to reflect on this time of year with hearts open".

"It is a time for our senses to awaken – for each of us to smell the aroma of favourite family recipes, to hear the warmth of a dear friend's voice, to see the glow of lights and decorations, to taste the sweetness of candies and treats, and to feel the quiet stillness and strength of faith," Biden wrote.

READ MORE: Why John F. Kennedy always 'came back' to Jackie

Prior to 1961, the White House was decorated for Christmas but without a common theme underpinning the ornaments and decor.

Unsurprisingly, it was eternal trendsetter Jacqueline Kennedy who set that bauble in motion.

In the first year of her husband John F. Kennedy's ill-fated presidential term, Jackie chose a Nutcracker theme for her decorations.

The 32-year-old First Lady placed the Christmas tree in the Blue Room, adorning it with a selection of items evoking the Tchaikovsky ballet.

These included ornamental toys, birds, sugarplum fairies and angels, along with gingerbread cookies and candy canes.

In 1962, Jackie reused these ornaments for her children-themed tree set up in the North Entrance.

However, she added brightly wrapped packages and straw ornaments crafted by disabled or senior American citizens, according to The Kennedy Centre.

Once again, gingerbread cookies and candy canes were added to the tree.

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Prior to Kennedy's presidency, the White House Christmas decorations had been festive but they were fairly traditional.

Predecessors Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower had festooned their tree with tinsel and white lights in 1960, earning it the nickname of the Eisenhowers' Silver Tree.

Tragically, the Kennedys only celebrated two Christmases in the White House. The President was assassinated during a motorcade in Texas in November 1963.

However, Jackie's ritual of selecting a decorating theme has lingered in the presidential residence ever since.

The next First Lady, Claudia 'Lady Bird' Johnson, chose "comforting and nostalgic" decorations in the years her husband Lyndon B. Johnson was in office.

In 1965 and 1966, she opted for an 'early American' theme with everything from nuts and fruit to popcorn and dried seedpods hanging from the White House trees.

Themes in the years since have included American flowers, antique toys, Mother Goose, children's literacy, needlework and The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Jackie's Nutcracker theme has been revived by two First Ladies in the years since she left the White House.

In 1990, Barbara Bush, wife of George H. W. Bush, embraced the theme with ornaments including porcelain dancers and ballet slippers.

In 1996, Hillary Clinton used toy soldiers, sugar plum fairies and mouse kings to bring her vision of the ballet to life.

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Michelle Obama selected themes including 'Reflect, Rejoice, Renew', 'Simple Gifts', 'Shine, Give, Share' and 'A Children's Winter Wonderland'.

Then there was Melania Trump, who wasn't quite as enthused by her annual Christmas responsibilities as some of her predecessors.

In recordings released by former Trump aide-turned-author Stephanie Winston Wolkoff in 2020, the wife of Donald Trump voiced her dismay over her decor duties.

"I'm working my a-- off with the Christmas stuff that, you know, who gives a f--- about Christmas stuff and decorations? But I need to do it, right?" she was heard saying.

During her husband's years in office, Melania's annual choice in festive theme never failed to get the public talking — and not always for the intended reasons.

RELATED: Melania Trump defends her divisive red Christmas trees

After all, who could forget the time she decked the halls of the residence in 40 blood-red trees in a scene likened by many to The Shining?

For her final Christmas as First Lady 2020, the former model chose the theme 'America the Beautiful', with decorations including baubles designed by school students and a nod to COVID-19 frontline workers.

Prior to 2020, her themes were 'Time-Honoured Traditions', 'American Treasures' and 'The Spirit of America'.