Christmas
Tree
Lighting
Introduction
Christmas is a vital part of all our lives. And for most
of us, music plays an important role in our public
and private celebrations of Christ's birth. The Christmas
tree is an evergreen tree (often a spruce) that people
decorate with lights and ornaments at Christmas.
One of the most popular traditions
associated with the celebration of Christmas, the Christmas
tree is normally an evergreen conifer tree that is brought
in the house or used in the open, and is decorated with
Christmas lights and colorful ornaments during the days
around Christmas.
The aim lies in celebrating the
day with the lights and the blessing of the Christ ion
the open for as days or too. This helps ion the flow
of positive energy in the house and the negative energy
flows out.
The National Christmas tree Lighting
Today, on the 25th of December, the lighting of the National
Christmas Tree is just one part of what has become
a major event at the White House - the Christmas Pageant
of Peace (first established in 1954). Activities include
(1) Featured guest performers,
(2) Strolling costumed entertainers,
(3) More than 50 volunteer choirs,
(4) Gospel groups,
(5) Bell ringers, and
(6) Cloggier providing live musical performances.
What once was a single Christmas
tree now includes a main tree with 56 smaller trees -one
for each state, territory, and the District - lining
the Pathway of Peace. More than 75,000 lights illuminate
this year's display, and to signify the beginning of
the new Millennium, the National Christmas Tree will
remain decorated with multi-colored lights until midnight
of New Years Eve, at which time it will change to an
all-white illumination, with accents of red garlands
and blue in the star.
War And Peace Of The Tree
The history of Christmas tree lighting ceremonies is
steeped in symbolism. The 1941 tree lighting, following
the attack on Pearl Harbor,. Wartime blackouts kept
the tree unlit from 1942 until 1944. Following World
War II and the Korean War, the Christmas Pageant of
Peace Inc. was organized and the scope of the National
Community Christmas Tree Celebration was broadened
to emphasize the desire for peace through the spirit
and meaning of Christmas. On Dec. 17, 1954, President
Dwight Eisenhower lit the first National Christmas
Tree for the Pageant of Peace. It was the first time
the program had not been held on Christmas Eve.
In 1980, the tree was only fully
lighted for 417 seconds-one second for each day the hostages
had been in captivity. And the peaceful way of displaying
the Christmas tree with lights is still on the move.
Merry Christmas!
There are many
more fixture articles in our fixture
section. There
is more specific information in the links at the beginning
of this article. They can guide you where you need
to go.
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