The 84-foot-tall white fir will light up the Capitol every night through Christmas. Photo by M. Scott Mahaskey.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi made remarks at the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Photo by Ike Hayman.
Various members from the California Congressional delegation and other distinguished guests were at the tree lighting, including a California fifth-grader. Photo by Ike Hayman.
84-foot-tall white fir lights up the West Front Lawn
On Wednesday, December 1, Congressional leadership and other representatives gathered to watch the 2021 Capitol Christmas Tree flicker on and illuminate the night for the first time this year.
"In war time and in peace, in tribulation and triumph, the Christmas Tree has offered a sense of hope and resilience to the nation,” said Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (CA-12) at the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. “It has earned the endless nickname ‘The People’s Tree,’ a testament to its special ability to unite us in comfort and joy, no matter who we are or where we are from."
The 84-foot-tall white fir was harvested from the Mad River Ranger District in the Six Rivers National Forest in California, which was impacted last year by the largest recorded wildfire in California's history. The People's Tree traveled thousands of miles to Washington, D.C. During its journey by truck, the tree stopped in communities along the way.
Speaker Pelosi lit the tree with the help of this year’s official tree lighter, fifth-grader Michael Marvis.
Hailing from Del Norte, California, Michael won this year’s U.S. Christmas Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest with his essay about what 'Six Rivers, Many Peoples, One Tree' means to him. Mavis wrote about how "we, the People who live in the tree’s symbolic shadow, hope that its beauty and grandeur provide a beacon to America and a reminder on this Christmas, that all things are possible."
Various members from the California Congressional delegation were at the tree lighting, including Representative Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) and Senator Dianne Feinstein.
Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02) also gave remarks during the ceremony, noting that the tree was harvested from the California's second district. "I am very biased, I'll admit that," Huffman said, "but I think I represent one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is an honor, not just for me, but for all of my constituents that we get to share a piece of that beautiful place with the Capitol and the rest of the country this holiday season."
Feinstein also praised the California children who helped create ornaments to decorate the Capitol Christmas Tree. "There are 15,000 ornaments on this tree," she said. "That's the most ever created by one state in the history of the Capitol Christmas tree."
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the tree was selected virtually for the second time. “Thanks to drone footage, comprehensive photos, compelling narration, and detailed notes and measurements, we were able to select a majestic white fir that very well represents the Six Rivers National Forest and the great state of California,” said Jim Kaufmann, Director of Capitol Grounds and Arboretum for the Architect of the Capitol.
Arriving on the West Front Lawn on November 19, the tree was installed and decorated by the Architect of the Capitol’s grounds team.
The Capitol Christmas Tree will be lit from nightfall until 11 p.m. every night through Christmas.