[ti:White House Decorations Honor Pandemic Workers] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]The decorations for President Joe Biden's first Christmas in the White House [00:06.92]honor workers who stayed on the job during the COVID-19 pandemic. [00:15.32]The White House gave the public the first look at the decorations Monday. [00:22.84]The subject chosen for 2021's Christmas White House is "Gifts from the Heart." [00:32.20]The traditional gingerbread White House recognizes nurses, [00:38.64]doctors, teachers, food store workers and others. [00:45.24]This year, a 158-kilogram gingerbread village was created [00:52.24]to include the workplaces of different groups during the pandemic. [00:59.52]This included a school, police, fire and gas stations, [01:05.52]as well as a post office, food store and warehouse. [01:11.40]Workers who stayed on the job are also represented [01:16.72]in bright, colorful doves [01:19.52]and shooting stars placed in the East Colonnade area. [01:25.36]The White House holiday guidebook [01:28.44]says the decorations are meant to honor [01:32.68]"the peace and light brought to us by all the front-line workers [01:39.04]and first responders during the pandemic." [01:42.92]The decorations are the result of months of planning and work [01:49.00]by First Lady Jill Biden and White House employees. [01:54.44]She invited a group of second graders from Maryland [01:59.76]to help show off the decorations on Monday. [02:04.52]The White House said the decorations are meant to represent people [02:10.12]the Bidens met while traveling across the country this year. [02:16.64]A statement by the president and first lady [02:20.20]identified important gifts they believe helped unite Americans [02:26.60]across the country during the pandemic. [02:31.08]Among these were faith, family, the arts, nature, [02:37.24]friendship, community, unity and peace. [02:42.56]"These are the gifts that tie together the heartstrings of our lives. [02:49.64]These are the gifts from the heart," the statement said. [02:55.12]"We wish you a happy, healthy, and joyous holiday season. [03:01.24]As we look to a new year full of possibility, [03:05.36]may gifts from the heart light our path forward." [03:11.24]The volunteers who decorated the White House [03:15.00]came only from the surrounding area [03:18.28]because of COVID-19 concerns. [03:21.76]About 100 people helped decorate 41 Christmas trees [03:28.20]and hung more than 10,000 ornaments. [03:32.64]One major decoration is the official White House Christmas Tree. [03:38.48]This year, it is a 5.5-meter tall Fraser fir covered with white doves. [03:47.68]The tree, which came from the southern state of North Carolina, [03:52.80]contains the names of all U.S. states and territories on white ribbons. [04:00.48]It stands in the White House's Blue Room. [04:04.96]The White House has suspended public tours of the building [04:10.08]because of ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. [04:14.84]It is unclear how holiday celebrations [04:18.56]will be held at the presidential home. [04:22.40]White House press secretary Jen Psaki [04:26.44]has said there will be parties, but added [04:30.64]that they would be "different" than in past years. [04:34.96]I'm Bryan Lynn. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM