White House Christmas Card Features Bo Obama

If you happen to be on the White House’s Christmas card list, you probably noticed that this year’s card features an illustration of Bo, the Obamas’ Portuguese Water Dog, sleeping beside the fireplace – without a two-legged Obama family member in sight.

But according to the Washington Post, it’s not unusual for White House cards not to feature the human inhabitants of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

“For the most part, it’s the White House itself, either the exterior or interior,” Jennifer Pickens, author of “Christmas at the White House,” told the Post.

Among the very few humans to appear on Christmas cards were Franklin D. Roosevelt, who initiated the tradition of sending them, and Bill and Hillary Clinton, who only posed because a commissioned painting was too similar to an image on a previous card.

Los Angeles artist Mark Matuszak, who was commissioned to create the 2011 card, told ArtLyst.com he was contacted by the White House social secretary a few months ago.

“They wanted to do an inside shot, something home related,” Matuszak said. “We thought, Let’s put Bo in front of a fireplace.”

Matuszak then created the White House’s first fully digitally designed holiday card, using a Photoshopped image of Bo.

The inside of the card says, “From our family to yours, may your holidays shine with the light of the season.” It is signed by all the Obamas: Barack, Michelle, Malia, Sasha – and Bo.

PHOTO: The White House

Laura Goldman

Laura Goldman is senior social media writer for i Love Dogs, Inc. She does love dogs. And elephants and turtles. Along with writing about the loves of her life, Laura likes to play with her two pound pups and tell anyone who’ll listen just how awesome Pit Bulls are.