WASHINGTON — During his last Christmas tree lighting event at the White House, President Joe Biden expressed his heartfelt wish for the nation, emphasizing the importance of “seeking the light of liberty and love, kindness and compassion, dignity and decency.”
Biden addressed the audience, who were bundled up in warm clothing due to the cold gusts and low temperatures that blanketed the capital. Both Vice President Kamala Harris and her spouse, Doug Emhoff, were present to witness the occasion. The majestic tree was placed on the Ellipse, visible to passersby on the streets surrounding the South Lawn of the White House.
The towering 30-foot red spruce tree was sourced from the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area in Grayson County, Virginia, and made its way to the White House on November 15.
As the holiday season draws to a close, First Lady Jill Biden has adorned the White House with enchanting decorations meant to capture the “peace and light” innate to Christmas. Unfortunately, she was unable to partake in the lighting ceremony because she was attending to her women’s health initiative in Doha, Qatar.
Taking the lead, President Biden counted down from five, resulting in the tree lights transforming into a bright, festive green that illuminated the entire structure from the top down to the base. Following this, he wished the crowd a Merry Christmas before making his way to enjoy the musical performances that accompanied the event.
Biden articulated that this year’s theme underscores the “peace we feel as we pause and reflect on our blessings and the light we see as we gather with loved ones and cherish our time together.”
The lighting of the Christmas tree is a cherished annual tradition. The ceremony featured performances by artists such as Trombone Shorty and Trisha Yearwood.
The Christmas display at the White House boasts a grand tree encircled by a carousel inspired by amusement parks, adorned with brass-colored bells, while sleigh bells traced a hallway leading to the main event.
This particular tree was harvested from a farm located in Newland, North Carolina, which fell victim to Hurricane Helene earlier in the year. The Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm, a longstanding fixture, experienced substantial loss due to a mudslide, resulting in the destruction of thousands of trees.
