Speaker Pelosi, California Delegation to Host Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and members of the California Congressional delegation will host the lighting of the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at 5 p.m.
This year’s tree, nicknamed “Sugar Bear,” is a white fir from the Six Rivers National Forest in Crescent City, California. It arrived at the West Front Lawn of the Capitol on Nov. 19.
After it was secured to the ground, the tree was decorated with thousands of ornaments handcrafted by Californians to reflect this year’s theme, “Six Rivers, Many Peoples, One Tree.”
The theme represents the natural and cultural diversity of the Six Rivers National Forest, its communities and our nation.
Beginning Wednesday, the tree will be lit from nightfall until 11:00 p.m. each evening through Jan. 1, 2022.
The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree dates back to 1964 when Architect of the Capitol J. George Stewart, at the suggestion of Speaker John W. McCormack, established the yearly tradition of decorating a tree on the West Front Lawn.
Since 1970, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service has provided the trees.
In addition to Speaker Pelosi and the members of the congressional delegation, other participants in the tree lighting include J. Brett Blanton, architect of the Capitol, Randy Moore, chief of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Forest Service, and perhaps most important of all, Crescent City fifth grader Michael Mavris, who will serve as the honorary tree lighter.
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