The Mississippi Governor’s Mansion’s 2025 Christmas decorations celebrate Mississippi’s K-12 students and educators with the theme, “A Season of Success.”

“We chose this theme to highlight our state’s historic and nation-leading educational gains that are the envy of America,” a note from the family of Gov. Tate Reeves in a pamphlet explaining the holiday decorations says.

Here is a collection of photos showcasing many of the decorations throughout the mansion.

The front door of the Mississippi Governor's Mansion, lit up at night and decorated for Christmas with golden nutcrackers standing on either side of the door
Two gold nutcrackers stand guard at the entrance to the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
An interior view of the Mississippi Governor's Mansion, decorated for Christmas with a tree covered in pages of a book
A Christmas tree is decorated with the pages of books to represent the importance of literacy in the foyer of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A closeup of a Christmas tree covered in pages of a book
Pages of books adorn a Christmas tree in the foyer of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Pres
An interior view of the Mississippi Governor's Mansion, decorated for Christmas as man plays piano
The sounds of holiday tunes fill the room as a pianist plays a baby grand piano near a staircase in the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
An interior view of the Mississippi Governor's Mansion, decorated for Christmas with a tree icovered in pepperments and santa clause
A Christmas tree features a Santa theme in Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
An interior view of the Mississippi Governor's Mansion, decorated for Christmas with decorations hanging around a doorway
A garland on a doorway at the entrance to the Gold Parlor displays ornaments made by students from schools across the state at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
Christmas stockings hang over a fireplace inside the Mississippi Governor's Mansion
Stockings hang on the chimney in the Gold Parlor at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
An interior view of the Mississippi Governor's Mansion, decorated for Christmas with a tree in front of white and gold curtained windows
A Christmas tree stands in the Gold Parlor of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025.. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
An interior view of the Mississippi Governor's Mansion, decorated for Christmas with a tree in a pinkish room
The Rose Parlors feature the only live Christmas tree in the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., seen here on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A room in the Mississippi Governor's Mansion, decorated for Christmas
The Rose Parlors feature the only live Christmas tree in the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., seen here on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
An interior view of a stairway in the Mississippi Governor's Mansion, decorated for Christmas
Garlands featuring magnolias and bookcases decorate the main staircase of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A Christmas scene made of gingerbread sits on a side table
A gingerbread house is seen on the second-floor landing of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A collection of various sized nutcrackers decorate a side table
Nutcrackers stand on a stable on the second-floor landing of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A Christmas scene is set up on a side table
A gingerbread house, cupcakes, a train made of sweets and a Santa Claus doll stand on a table on the second-floor landing of the governor’s mansion. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
An interior view of the Mississippi Governor's Mansion, decorated for Christmas with a tree in a decorated in a musical theme
A Christmas tree on the second-floor landing celebrates Mississippi’s musical heritage, surrounded by art pieces made by students at Choctaw Central Middle School, Neshoba Central art classes and the Winston Academy Elementary art class at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. A vintage band uniform stands nearby. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
Closeup of a piece of art depicting the state of Mississippi made up of various faces of different colors
Artwork made by students displays Mississippi’s diversity, seen here at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
An interior view of the Mississippi Governor's Mansion, decorated for Christmas with room decorated in a sport theme
The Green Bedroom features decorations celebrating Mississippi’s colleges and universities, seen here at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
An interior view of the Mississippi Governor's Mansion, decorated for Christmas with sports items decorating the bedroom furniture
The Green Bedroom features decorations celebrating Mississippi’s colleges and universities, seen here at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
An interior view of the Mississippi Governor's Mansion, decorated for Christmas in a sports theme
A Christmas tree in the Green Bedroom celebrates Mississippi’s colleges and universities, seen here at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A fireplace in the Governor's Mansion is covered in Christmas garland and nutcrackers
Nutcrackers stand on a mantle in the Cream Bedroom, decorated to celebrate Mississippi’s status leading the nation in 4th-grade math gains and achieving a ranking of No. 16 in the nation in education, seen here in the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
Closeup of a Christmas tree covered in poinsettias
A Christmas tree in the Cream Bedroom features poinsettias and cards with mathematical equations in the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A room in the Mississippi Governor's Mansion, decorated for Christmas with a tree and fireplace decor
Literary elements in the Gold Bedroom’s Christmas decorations are a tribute to Mississippi’s historic reading gains, seen here Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A table in the Governor's Mansion is covered in candles, red Christmas decorations and local Mississippi books
Books and candles adorn a table in the Gold Bedroom of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A table in the Governor's Mansion is covered in candles, green Christmas decorations and local Mississippi books
Books by celebrated Mississippi author William Faulkner sit on a table in the Gold Bedroom of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A closeup of an open book sitting in a Christmas tree as decoration
A Christmas tree is decorated with open books in the Gold Bedroom of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A room in the Mississippi Governor's Mansion, decorated for Christmas with a school theme including alphabet blocks and giant pencils
The Pumpkin Bedroom’s Christmas decorations celebrate Mississippi’s young learners, seen here in the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
The book "The Night Before Christmas" sits out with a bottle of milk
A glass of milk sits atop a copy of “The Night Before Christmas” on a bed in the Pumpkin Bedroom in the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A nutcracker sits on a bedside table next to jars of pencils and crayons
A nutcracker stands next to pencils and crayons on a bedside table in the Pumpkin Bedroom of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
The side exterior of the Mississippi Governor's Mansion, with Christmas trees visible in the windows
Trees and Christmas lights are visible from the windows of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025.. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press

Award-winning News Editor Ashton Pittman, a native of the South Mississippi Pine Belt, studied journalism and political science at the University of Southern Mississippi. Previously the state reporter at the Jackson Free Press, he drove national headlines and conversations with award-winning reporting about segregation academies. He has won numerous awards, including Outstanding New Journalist in the South, for his work covering immigration raids, abortion battles and even former Gov. Phil Bryant’s unusual work with “The Bad Boys of Brexit" at the Jackson Free Press. In 2021, as a Mississippi Free Press reporter, he was named the Diamond Journalist of the Year for seven southern U.S. states in the Society of Professional Journalists Diamond Awards. A trained photojournalist, Ashton lives in South Mississippi with his husband, William, and their two pit bulls, Dorothy and Dru.