Christmas at the White House – in pictures

Everyone has some hand-me-down decorations in their Christmas box - it's just that the Obamas' belonged to former first ladies Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

A gingerbread house is always a nice Christmas treat. Bet yours isn't a 130kg replica of your actual house … Photograph: Christy Bowe/Corbis

… right down to a chocolate version of your organic kitchen garden Photograph: Zhang Jun/Xinhua Press/Corbis

A bauble bower fit for the corridors of power, but easy enough to copy in the hall at home Photograph: Zhang Jun/Xinhua Press/Corbis

A young visitor to the White House looks enchanted by the Christmas tree … Photograph: Zhang Jun/Xinhua Press/Corbis

… but why stop at one when a brace looks even better? Photograph: Christy Bowe/Corbis

A larger-than-life version of Bo, the Obama's Portuguese water dog. In this video, the real Bo didn't seem too fazed by his slightly scary Christmas cousin Photograph: Sipa USA/Rex Features

Not all the White House decorations are oversized, as this sweet deer decoration in the library shows. There's another huge tree in the background, though Photograph: Zhang Jun/Xinhua Press/Corbis