The National Christmas Tree
The National Christmas Tree has been a tradition since 1923.
The 2001 National Christmas Tree (after 9/11) was red white and blue.
President Obama lights National Christmas Tree
In February 2011, the tree that had served as the nation's Christmas centerpiece each year since 1978 was felled by 50 mph winds that snapped its trunk. The Colorado blue spruce that replaced it lasted only a year before being declared dead by the National Park Service in May of 2012. It was replaced by another Colorado blue spruce that is serving as this year’s tree.
Obama lights the National Christmas Tree Dec. 6, 2013
"In times of war and peace, triumph and tragedy, we've always come together to rejoice in the Christmas miracle," Obama said at last year’s ceremony. "But our tree has been having a hard time recently. Just goes to show, nobody's job is safe here in Washington."
The tree-lighting ceremony was first held in 1923 when a press aide who was also an engineer persuaded President Calvin Coolidge to have a decorated, outdoor Christmas tree to encourage Americans to buy electric Christmas lights and use electricity. The first live tree was employed a year later, after Coolidge criticized the practice of cutting down trees for Christmas decorations. In 1942, the tree went unlit for the first time, due to security restrictions and power conservation. It remained unlit until the end of World War II in 1945.
In contrast to the Obamas attending the ceremony in person, from 1948 to 1951, president Harry Truman lit the tree by remote control from his home in Missouri; he returned to light it in person at the White House in 1952. In 1961, the tree was not lit by President John F. Kennedy but by vice president Lyndon Johnson, because Kennedy had gone to be with his father, who had suffered a stroke. In 1963, in the wake of JFK's Nov. 22 assassination, an official 30-day period of national mourning was declared, delaying the lighting until Dec. 22.
In 1979 the tree was only partially lit because President Jimmy Carter declared it would not be fully lit until American hostages in Iran were freed. For six years in the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan lit the tree by remote control from inside the White House because of concerns over assassination attempts.
The first tree ever to be lit by solar power made its debut in 1995, and the tree was decorated with LED lights for the first time in 2007.
https://www.today.com/news/president-obama-lights-national-christmas-tree-2D11702471
Let's look at more recent history. This article is from 2018:
The National Christmas Tree: A history in lights
John Burger | Nov 27, 2018
When President Trump throws the switch this year, he’ll follow a nearly century-old tradition
For almost 100 years, America has gathered around its own national Christmas tree, and traditions over the years have reflected national concerns, historical events and public debates. But it’s still referred to as the National Christmas Tree, rather than the National Holiday Tree.
President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, accompanied by members of the first family, will light the tree on Wednesday, November 28, at the 96th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at President’s Park in Washington, D.C.
The ceremony this year will include renditions of holiday tunes performed by the Dominican Sisters of Mary (going by the moniker “Caroling Angels”), the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” Abby Anderson, Anthony Kearns, Gabby Barrett, LOCASH, Matthew West, Paul Cardall, Spensha Baker, and Thompson Square.
The National Christmas Tree is a living tree that can be viewed year-round in President’s Park. There will also be 56 smaller trees surround the 47-foot tree, representing each U.S. state, territory and the District of Columbia. Fifty-six schools across the country are creating ornaments to adorn them.
https://aleteia.org/2018/11/27/the-national-christmas-tree-a-history-in-lights/
Trump lights the 2019 National Christmas Tree
This is the tree that was planted in 2012.
Merry Christmas, NewsTalkers.
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Merry Christmas NewsTalkers!
( nicely done )
Your comment has triggered an a c i d flashback.
You can't tell from this angle, but there's a missing bottle on the bottom row. The guy who made this tree is just one Jack off.
I like your tree.
It may need a little water.
Ho, ho, ho, baby!
It's a lovely tree that doesn't need the typical decorations..
I highly recommend these living trees over cut trees.
I can tell it's going to be a happy New Year.