National Christmas Tree Lighting

This year I put my name in the lottery to get tickets for the National Christmas Tree Lighting after my friend Katie went last year. I didn't really know anything about it, but I thought it would be fun to go this year. One of the many, many, many blogs I read out there had info about when the lottery would start and I randomly applied. Many weeks later I get this letter in the mail from the National Park Service. I almost threw it away because I was like what the HELL am I getting from the Park Service?!?! Thankfully I didn't because there were my FOUR tickets!!! Well, we didn't get seated tickets which I would have loved, I did get standing tickets. I had no idea how big this event was until my friend Emily asked about it and if it was a big deal. After googling I found out that they gave out and 14,000 standing tickets!! I knew the President would be there, but I had no idea that bands actually played! You could even watch it online!

This year's line up included:

• television and radio personality Carson Daly (Host)
  
• platinum selling band OneRepublic
  
• country music star Rodney Atkins
  
• six-time Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Marsha Ambrosius
  
• a special appearance by Kermit the Frog, star of The Muppets

The history of the event:

In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge walked from the White House to the Ellipse to light a 48-foot fir tree decorated with 2,500 electric bulbs in red, white and green, as a local choir and a “quartet” from the U.S. Marine Band performed. 89 years later, this American holiday tradition continues to bring citizens together to share in a message of hope and peace.

This first National Christmas Tree led to the tradition we celebrate today and along the way the tree’s location and the lighting ceremony have changed.

From 1924 to 1933 the tree, renamed the National Community Christmas Tree, was located in Sherman Park, which is south of the Main Treasury Building and southeast of the White House grounds. During these years, simple lighting ceremonies and community singing were accompanied by the U.S. Marine Band. The National Park Service’s responsibilities for the park lands and the tree ceremony began in 1933.

From 1934 to 1938 the National Christmas Tree was located in Lafayette Park on the north side of the White House. In 1939 and 1940, the tree was relocated to a spot just south of the center of the Ellipse. Caroling, choirs and military bands continued to characterize the lighting program entertainment. The years 1941 to 1953 found the National Christmas Tree on the South Lawn of the White House. In 1941, on December 24, only weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill led the lighting ceremony and addressed the crowd.

In 1954 the tree moved back to the Ellipse where it has been located ever since. Also in 1954, the tree lighting became known as the Christmas Pageant of Peace, a celebration conceived by the Washington Board of Trade and the Washington Citizen’s Committee. The tree lighting ceremony moved from its traditional Christmas Eve date to earlier in December and was then followed by three weeks of presentations by community organizations and groups on the stage at the Ellipse.

While the location of the tree in President’s Park and its lighting ceremony program have changed and evolved over the years, the purpose remains the same: our local and national communities coming together to celebrate the season and to share the message of peace.

The Obamas' were out as well to flip the switch:

Yay for these girls coming with me!

The crowd is starting to build! The tree is way over there on the left and the stage was in front of us pretty far away :(

Sun is starting to set and the event is beginning!

We were right next to the Washington Monument (which is still closed after the cracks from the earthquake this summer!)