Obama Family Lights Up 89th National Christmas Tree

WASHINGTON -- The Christmas spirit officially swept into the nation's capital Thursday night as hundreds of families and onlookers assembled on the Ellipse to witness President Obama and his family light the national Christmas tree.

Standing at just 26 feet tall, this year's tree is noticeably smaller than the previous official Christmas tree, which was brought down in a February storm after 30 years in service.

"But we all know that this tradition is much larger than any single tree," Obama reminded the crowd in his address. "And tonight we gather here again, not simply to light some decorations, but to honor a story that lights the world."

The president urged Americans to help those in need this season before welcoming soldiers home for the holidays and thanking those still overseas for their service. At the end of his address, he invited the first lady and their two daughters on stage to help light up the four-point golden star and multicolor lights adorning the National Christmas tree.

With its LED lighting technology, this year's national Christmas tree is the most energy effective tree in the tradition's history.

But energy efficiency wasn't the only thing making this year’s tree lighting the greenest one yet: Kermit the Frog made an appearance, helping first lady Michelle Obama read "Twas The Night Before Christmas."

The night also featured live performances from acts including Big Time Rush and One Republic and was hosted by late night talk show personality Carson Daly. The event was scheduled to feature a performance by will.i.am, but the Black Eyed Peas star did not make an appearance.

The 89th lighting of the national Christmas tree was nearly a politics-free night for the Obamas as they celebrated the Christmas spirit among fellow Americans -- until that charming amphibious lead of the new "Muppets" movie discussed his beau's wish list with none other than St. Nicholas.

"I got Miss Piggy's wish list," Kermit told Santa Claus, revealing it was over 250 pages long. "And that doesn't include all the subcommittees and markups."

Comments

[UrbanRevolution]

06:18 PM on 12/08/2011

when did all the ultra cynical trolls come to HP?

[media sux]

05:51 PM on 12/04/2011

Did he use a match or his zippo?

[kevmi16]

01:30 PM on 12/03/2011

A guy lighting a Christmas Tree who avoids saying Jesus or God is just pathetic.

[UrbanRevolution]

06:15 PM on 12/08/2011

listen to the whole thing!

[sks504]

12:42 PM on 12/03/2011

Then they put a burka on it.

[Brehas2]

10:26 AM on 12/03/2011

Okay, you Socialists, atheists, Communists, National Socialists, Marxists and all of the others who follow the Devil, now that you have drunk your fill, eat and gorged yourselves for the Christmas season and will go on doing so for the rest of the month and beyond and having faithfully followed the Capitalist principles fiscally in buying presents and goodies for your families and spending and supporting the Capitalist economy , you can now having invested your millions which you have made in our Capitalist society for your personal gain, you can now go back to your expressions of 'holiday' and spout your Marxist bilge and perform the war on Christmas and on our society until next Christmas. Have a Merry Marxist Capitalista Christmas.

[Brehas2]

10:07 AM on 12/03/2011

Have a merry Socialist Christmas
Its the Marxist time of the year
If you know some Socialist worker
Remind them Jesus once was here.

[Brehas2]

09:50 AM on 12/03/2011

I don't hear the Voice President Biden lately? What happened to him?

[miahurley]

01:34 PM on 12/03/2011

They don't let him out much because as soon as he opens his mouth he becomes the GOP gift that keeps on giving.

[kejavas]

07:58 AM on 12/03/2011

at the end, he said "happy Holidays", just to get a dig in on Jesus.

[miahurley]

01:36 PM on 12/03/2011

"Christmas" is a national federal holiday, it is NOT the nartional federal "Happy Holidays" holiday.

[kejavas]

10:15 AM on 12/04/2011

haha.what is the national federal "Happy Hoidays" holiday??? That is PRICELESS!

[kejavas]

07:54 AM on 12/03/2011

Obama just cannot seem to muster all of his strength and such avid Christian roots to utter the "J" word. A" tradition", a "story". Did you see the look of disgust on michelle's face?

[Brehas2]

10:52 AM on 12/03/2011

Right. Jesus and Marx are not exactly bedfellows. Are they? This is the most painful time and the most hateful season for the Socialists. They spout the anti-Christmas language, they squirm in embarrassment, they realize that their beliefs stick out like a sore thumb. They realize that they are naked to the world and the world sees them for the devils they are. They spend and invest like Capitalists and live the rest of their miserable lives like Commies and follow Obama. Now, he has led them over the cliff-- into the ocean.

[kejavas]

10:16 AM on 12/04/2011

Fanned for extreme logic--of course, that is very difficult to find on hp

[Brehas2]

11:13 AM on 12/03/2011

They sing Socialist songs as the 'Internationale' not Christmas songs.

[kejavas]

10:16 AM on 12/04/2011

Yes, about kabala and that african thing they are trying to call a religion

[Don Stalvino]

07:21 AM on 12/03/2011

I wonder what Sec. Chu will have to say about this?

[plebian43]

07:38 PM on 12/04/2011

He soiled his lyndra.

[Iya Sapa Mato]

11:35 PM on 12/02/2011

Was that interrupted by a fund raising campaign event, like it was for New Yorks traditional lighting? Were there instructions on lighting of the tree on a TelePrompTer?

[nfischet]

05:34 PM on 12/02/2011

i'm surprised that it has not been renamed to "the holiday tree"

[tsunamicoming]

05:34 PM on 12/02/2011

What in the H----L is Grandma doing there? It is just amazing that a tree had been there for over 30 years and now had to be replaced !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kencrn419]

06:18 PM on 12/02/2011

Relax, cupcake.

The old tree got knocked down by a storm and it was replaced.

And if it WASN'T replaced, you'd be whining about THAT.

Admit it.

[SONNYSIDE]

02:40 PM on 12/02/2011

since gingrich is the new savior of the republican party,he will be celebrating his birthday december 25th,the new flavor of the month

[estherskitek]

02:23 PM on 12/02/2011

The first family doesn't look very happy in the small picture posted above. Each face is more miserable looking than the next....including their daughters.

[lonestarlady36]

04:43 PM on 12/02/2011

Cold weather does that to me.

[nautilus55]

07:22 AM on 12/03/2011

You noticed that too? Almost like they were thinking "We cant wait until I get re-elected and then I can come out as a Muslim and ignore this stupid tradition"

[lonestarlady36]

10:40 AM on 12/03/2011

Ho-Ho-Ho- that is so ridiculous.