President George W. Bush lighted the National Christmas tree Dec. 2 on the Ellipse, officially beginning D.C.'s holiday season.
"Tonight we begin a joyous season, and the city of Washington is never more beautiful than during the holidays," Bush said.
He reminded the crowd of the servicemen and women stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan who can't spend the holidays with family. Girl Scouts from a Brownie troop in Virginia who had collected gifts for soldiers overseas helped the president light the tree.
Nate Wambold, a freshman in the School of International Service, went with a friend to the lighting ceremony.
"We both came from small towns in Pennsylvania, so it was a big switch from the mayor lighting the town tree to the president lighting the tree," Wambold said.
The National Christmas Tree is an 81-year-old tradition started by President Calvin Coolidge. The tree is a Colorado blue spruce that is more than 40 feet tall and stands on the Ellipse in front of the White House.
The tree has a patriotic theme, with large, white, star-shaped lights and more than 15,000 small colored lights. General Electric has donated the lights for the past 42 years, according to the National Christmas Pageant of Peace Organization.
The Christmas Pageant of Peace includes the tree, a model train, a Yule log and the "Pathway of Peace." The Pathway of Peace is lined with 56 small, decorated trees representing the 50 states, D.C. and five U.S. territories.
The tree is smaller than other well-known Christmas trees, like the Rockefeller Center tree in New York, but SIS sophomore Kim Lindsay said that doesn't matter.
"The whole city is shorter, so it makes sense," Lindsay said. "It's proportional."
The tree will light up from dusk to 11 p.m. until Dec. 23. Musical groups from around the country will perform at the tree every night as part of the Christmas Pageant of Peace.
"Finals are stressful," said Whitney Nichols, a sophomore in the School of Communication. "But going out in the city and enjoying the decorations is a good way to relieve final stress."
-EMILY CARONE
