Obama to Light New National Christmas Tree
EmailPresident Obama will officially light the National Christmas Tree tonight, inaugurating a new, significantly smaller, tree on the Ellipse and continuing a tradition 89 years in the making.
While the White House is eager to cut federal costs, this year’s puny tree was not a recession-friendly effort by the Obama administration. The 40-foot-tall Colorado blue spruce that had served as the national tree for 32 years was snapped in half by strong winds in February. The new, 26-foot-tall tree from New Jersey will make its grand debut as the National Christmas Tree tonight.
The tradition to have a national tree began in 1923 when President Calvin Coolidge lit 2,500 electric bulbs on a 48-foot balsam fir on Christmas Eve. Since then, the event has grown significantly. Tonight’s lighting ceremony will include performances by Big Time Rush, the Black Eyed Peas, and Kermit the Frog.
The holiday season has officially arrived at the White House. Tonight’s tree lighting comes one day after the White House holiday decorations and this year’s theme – “Shine, Give, Share” – were unveiled to the public.
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The WH is eager to cut Federal cost. Who are you kidding…maybe he should stop flying around on taxpayers money campaigning and spend some of his campaign funds for a change.
Posted by: Freedom | December 1, 2011, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
The 40-foot-tall Colorado blue spruce that had served as the national tree for 32 years was snapped in half by strong winds in February.—Sound like an omen to me.
Posted by: billy bob | December 1, 2011, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm
The 40-foot-tall Colorado blue spruce that had served as the national tree for 32 years was snapped in half by strong winds in February.—Sound like an omen to me.
POSTED BY: BILLY BOB | DECEMBER 1, 2011, 1:08 PM 1:08 PM
Increasing severity of storms due to climate change?
Posted by: Jill | December 1, 2011, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
lol Obama flying around on taxpayer’s money….. Rididculous. if you want to see your tax money wasted, i say vote for any Republican candidate running for president now. Bush definitely wasted your taxpaye rmoney. WARS,WARS and more WARS
Posted by: minds12 | December 1, 2011, 3:11 pm 3:11 pm
Did Mary honestly just cal al 26-foot-tall tree “puny” ? May I ask how big the tree is in your house ? I can tell you that a 26 ft tree would certainly not be “puny” next to my 7 ft tree this year, that’s for sure.
Posted by: mk3872 | December 1, 2011, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm