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Michael Reynolds / EPA
A choir sings during the 90th annual National Christmas Tree lighting Thursday in Washington, D.C.
President Barack Obama lit a new National Christmas Tree at a traditional ceremony Thursday outside the White House that officially kicks off the holiday season in the nation’s capital.
The president was joined by the first lady and their two daughters, Malia, 14, and Sasha, 11, when he led a dramatic countdown before more than 17,000 guests and lit the tree.
Saul Loeb / AFP - Getty Images
President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters, Sasha and Malia, push the button to light the National Christmas Tree on Thursday.
Television and Broadway actor Neil Patrick Harris hosted the 90th annual tree-lighting ceremony, which featured musical performances by Colbie Caillat, James Taylor, Jason Mraz and The Fray. During the ceremony, first lady Michelle Obama read the story "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" with "Modern Family" actor Rico Rodriguez.
Jason Reed / Reuters
Following a dramatic countdown, the Obama family turns to view the illuminated National Christmas Tree on Thursday.
The National Park Service planted the 28-foot Colorado blue spruce in late October after the previous tree died earlier in the year from “transplant shock.” That tree had been planted on the grounds of the White House in March 2011, one month after high winds toppled the former national tree that had been up since 1978.
Brendan Smialowski / AFP - Getty Images
It's a beauty! The National Christmas Tree is lit during a festive ceremony on Thursday in Washington, D.C.
The tree-lighting ceremony marks the first event in a four-week holiday celebration presented by the National Park Service and its official charity, the National Park Foundation.
Archival photo from National Park Service
Awwww! It's the very first official National Christmas Tree! Back in 1923, President Calvin Coolidge began the tradition of lighting the tree in a formal ceremony.
The Capitol Christmas Tree, which attracts thousands of visitors each year, is part of a larger outdoor exhibit that features miniature train sets and dozens of smaller trees decorated with ornaments representing all 50 states, five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
Archival photo from National Park Service
This archival photo shows the National Christmas Tree in 1947.
The White House tree ceremony, considered a headache by area residents trying to navigate around event-related street closures, is an annual tradition started in 1923 by President Calvin Coolidge.
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Archival photo from National Park Service
This National Christmas Tree, pictured here in 1978, remained standing on the grounds of the White House until 2011 when high winds toppled it.
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Boy he has his nerve. How dare he light that tree; who the hell does he think he is. My god the country is on it's last leg, he should be impeached for this four dead in Ohio..everthing is that black guys fault. OMG. He wants my gun, my religion, he is a mooslim and he ain't no american. OMG he has no business there. Get the white in the white house. Now the government want to tell me to get a tree...There, did I cover all the trash before they get on here and unload there crap?
That's not trash, trash is what he thinks he will accomplish. His tax plan is a joke. Hey, lets $hi+ on the people who have busted their asses to become successful. Oh and by the way, taxing the "rich" is a pin drop compared to the true piano that's crashing down on our economy. Just wait until we all have to commit suicide by jumping off that fiscal cliff. But hey, unions will be taken care of... phfffff. Unions are pointless this day in age, we have so many laws and groups in place now to stand up for the "worker," but he preaches how great they are. All unions want is more money and higher power. joke joke joke.
I know it was posted as sarcasm, but just by knowing the talking points, you kind of illustrate that there is enough there for concern about BHO.
However, lighting a Christmas tree? It was probably painful for him, but no real big deal.
Is this what FOX and O'Reilly mean when they talk about the war on Christmas?
Brenda go back to bed. Of course it's an insult for this muslim to light a CHRISTmas tree. And I am getting a hand gun for CHRISTmas before this muslim takes it away from me. He doesn't care for this country, only for himself and his holmeboy minorities.
Well, it only took 3 posts for someone to bash the President for following a 90 year tradition. Congratulations, you win a cookie.
Brenda nailed it.
LOLOL! played RIGHT into her hand!
I wonder if people would have the same sentiment if, God forbid, a Jewish man was elected president? Or a Buddhist? Or an atheist? Why does faith have to dictate what our country does or what decisions our government makes? Why can't we act on common sense instead of having ancient texts tell us what to do?
Beautiful family. Neat tree.
merry christmas people - peace - and be nice and smile...you will feel better
Im surprised he didn't skip this one for a round of golf. Hey what about BENGHAZI?
Not only are you scary, you're an idiot!
What about Benghazi you stupid @!$%#!
Yeah, what about the 1000 days of vacation and 171 MILLION that bush spent. What about the 54 murdered americans in 12 embassy attacks during bush? Oh wait, we have to pretend that bush didn't happen.
Scary.. the election is OVER, give it up.
THUS SAYS THE LORD:
These modern holidays, Christmas, Easter and Halloween, are an abomination in the eyes of The Lord God Almighty! Therefore I shall destroy all pagan traditions, even every perverse holiday of men!... Behold! I shall wipe them from the face of the whole Earth, on that day! FOR I AM THE LORD, AND I AM COMING DOWN TO MAKE A SWIFT END!... And no more shall you break My Commandments, and revel in sin, in The Son’s name.
Behold! My countenance has turned against you! Says The Lord of Hosts.
For you have blasphemed the name of Christ!...
You and your detestable idols! Your false worship!
Your misuse of My name and The Christ’s!...
Your vanities, your greed,
Your envies, your lusts,
Your drunkenness,
Your gluttonous appetites...
Your fornications!...
Your false witnessing,
Lying to your children...
Your covetousness, your thefts...
And your murders! Even causing many to destroy themselves!...
BEHOLD! ALL YOU DO IS ADULTERY AGAINST YOUR GOD!
Have I not given you Holy Days, in which you were to honor My Son? Yet you forget them all, even the seventh day of each week, which you were to remember and keep holy. For I, The Lord, do not change... What do all these traditions of men have to do with Me?! And why do you them in The Son’s name?! Give the gift of His name, for by His name alone are you saved! There is no other!
Stop these vain babblings therefore! You speak these things in ignorance of the Truth! Shut your mouths! Cease from all this blasphemy!... Be silent before your God, and speak to Me in spirit.
Know you not, that you have all become as the pagan and the heathen, by which all your holidays have their origins? Abomination! This world has seduced you, and the harlot has led you into temptation by her false witness!... Behold! She shall be left utterly desolate and naked! Her flesh shall be eaten and consumed by fire! She shall be destroyed under judgment! Crushed beneath the feet of The Holy One of Israel! Broken because of her iniquities!... And put to death because of her denial of the Truth, which she had replaced with the many cups of her fornications!... Thus she shall surely drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation!
Thus says The Lord God: One Commandment broken are all Commandments broken; one sin, reveled in My name, are all sins accounted to you; one sin, repented in The Christ’s name, all are forgiven you. For I know your hearts, My children, and I know whether or not you have become fully converted in spirit... You can not lie to your God.
Come to Me therefore, in all truth and supplication,
By Him who I had sent to you in Truth...
Being The Truth Absolute, utterly void of darkness...
HE IS THE LIGHT!...
By Him shall you walk into life!
HE IS THE WAY!...
The only name under Heaven,
By which you must be saved!...
Walk in Him, and you shall find Me.
[Volume 4 "Transgression"]
~ TrumpetCallofGodOnline
Oh, and by the way, computers are abomination (based on a gay man's science), and Internet must be an abomination, too. What you're doing in this wretched place where the heathens congregate?
The tree is not pretty. It looks like a cone with stars on it.
May this 90 years old tradition continue as we see our re-elected President Obama lighted up the Christmas tree. Merry Christmas to you all.
Have a safe and sound the rest of the year.
It is officially the start of Christmas! Merry Christmas to all! Deck the halls with boughs of...........tra la la la la.
They are such a nice AMERICAN family.
Brenda, you're a little too deep in doom for most to handle tonight. You're forgetting that Michelle grew up in the Methodist faith and, therefore, we all can see remnants of this tonight. For instance, Sasha seems to have a smile on her face when she pushes the button, to light the tree. If Barack has to squirm through some of his Civic Duties to carry on old traditions, and keep the peace with Christians, then so be it. I didn't vote for him in either election, but I can tell your outlook on life isn't really positive.
Try finding something more time efficient and positive to consume your life. You're only hurting yourself more when you post such hatred. In the end, Barack will get what is coming to him. Nature always has a way of balancing the karma.
...reading comprehension fail...
Christopher J Maier
We can all see you don't recognize a little sarcasm. She was wondering when the hateful gopers would come here and say he shouldn't be there to light the tree. She was right, it only took 3 posts for the rats to come out.
Search eBay for a "sarcasm detector."
It's a shame that sarcasm font is not invented.
HAHAHA this thread is hilarious!
A holiday tree should look more like a tree.
Personally I am waiting for the atheist fanatics to come out...there was a choir singing at the lighting.
I do have to agree though that the tree isn't the prettiest I've seen...a little too, uhm, staged looking. There is no secret that one can have TOO many lights on the tree.
Why did he not call it a Holiday Tree? Was he afraid of offending the Christian nation?
Thank you for calling it a CHRISTMAS TREE!!!
Its time to IMPEACH and start the NEW YEAR OFF RIGHT
I'm surprised the lefties are letting him call it a Christmas tree..and it looks like a K-Mart blue light special one at that
is is sad to see all the hate brought out by a holiday ment for peace and joy