by senior contributor Brendan Kownacki
Photo credit: Brendan Kownacki
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, the happiest season of all. Once again, the only way to really kick off the season is to rock around the Christmas tree, the National Christmas Tree that is, and more than 20,000 holiday well wishers did just that on Thursday when the First Family and a host of musical performers turned out to get everyone in the holiday spirit.
The tradition dates back to December 1923 when school children wrote a letter and wanted to put a Christmas tree on the South Lawn of the White House. Before long the National Tree was born. Every President since Calvin Coolidge has taken part in the tradition, even though this year’s LED emblazoned tree is a little more high tech than what Coolidge had. This is the sixth year that the tree has been lit up exclusively by LED lights, making the tree ‘green’ in more than just color. The tree is circled by a nostalgic railroad scene, Santa’s workshop and 56 smaller trees, one for each state and US Territory.
The stage was rocking and the chilly evening couldn’t stop the song and spirit for anyone in the crowd. Actor and director Tom Hanks along with wife Rita Wilson were at the helm of the evening as hosts and kept everyone chuckling. Hanks even joked with the President that they should make a movie together about two police officers who also play basketball. Doesn’t sound too far fetched. Hanks is in town set to be one of the recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday.
Tom Hanks, “Made with Code Ambassador” Brittany Wenger, and Rita Wilson
Music legend Patti LaBelle wowed the crowd with her rendition of “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and rocker Steve Miller sang a lively version of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” What would a holiday be without Rudolph after all? President Obama, the First Lady and the First Daughters (as well as the First mother-in-law) were all on hand to light the tree and take part in the festivities. Soulful singers Fifth Harmony and the Tenors each echoed across President’s Park with their version of Christmas classics and R&B crooner NE-YO gave a shoutout to the troops as he sang “I’ll be Home for Christmas.”
That all seems to add up to the perfect Christmas equation, just need one more thing…..Santa of course. Even President Obama couldn’t resist the chance to high five Old Saint Nick and dance to the tune of “What Christmas Means to Me.”
Make sure to watch the full Tree Lighting ceremony on PBS starting during the month of December and follow along with the National Tree online with Twitter– @NationalTree will have fun facts, history, news and more. And most of all, have a Merry Christmas season.
