Christmas News

On Saturday morning (1th November), hundreds will gather in Bitterroot Valley (Montana, US) to officially kick off the season with caroling, speeches and good cheer as they watch the cutting of the 100-foot tall picture-perfect subalpine fir that will eventually end up on the U.S. Capitol’s west lawn.

“the People’s Tree” as the Capitol Tree is often called, is a tradition that started in US in 1970.  Each year since then, a different National Forest and the State in which the Forest is located, are asked provide The Tree, and all of the trimmings as a gift to our nation.

According to Ravalli Republic, people from all over the state have created thousands of ornaments to decorate the christmas tree 2008.

“We have close to 5,000 ornaments and we expect to pick up a lot more,” said the Bitterroot National Forest’s Roylene Gaul.

The tree was one of several selected by the Capitol architect this summer. As of Monday, this most perfect tree is under a 24-hour guard. This will mark the beginning of the weeks-long journey the tree will take through 19 different Montana communities and then across the country on its way to Washington D.C.

“All of the communities where we plan to stop have told us they have more ornaments. I expect we’ll probably get 1,000 more,” said Nan Christiansen, 2008 Montana Capitol Christmas Tree Coordinator.

United States’ National Christmas Tree has become a major symbol. The tree is located south of the White House in Washington D.C. The Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington DC at the United States Capitol is on Dec 2nd.

To learn more about the Capitol Christmas Tree, visit www.capitolchristmastree2008.org

When did former First Lady Hillary Clinton get to work on the first Clinton White House Christmas card?

Earlier than you might expect! According to Wall Street Journal march 20 2008, Clinton held her first Christmas card planning meeting on May 13, 1993 with four staffers for 50 minutes, according to her official White House schedules released march 19 2008. Clinton held a follow-up meeting on May 25, 1993, again with four staff members. This one lasted an hour.

President Clinton didn’t attend these meticulous planning events. He did, however, show up for their Christmas photo that was scheduled on Nov. 11, 1993.

While the Christmas card commanded the first lady’s attention in 1993, subsequent year’s schedules have no mention of Christmas card meetings.