Bidens light up Christmas tree in front of the White House
Twinkling lights at the White House: US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill rang in the Christmas season in the USA and lit up the traditional Christmas tree in front of the government headquarters at the touch of a button.
The Bidens celebrated the ceremony to mark the start of the festive season on Thursday evening together with numerous visitors. Biden counted down from five before the festively decorated fir tree began to shine.
The illuminated tree stands in Ellipse Park between the White House and the Washington Monument. The switching on of the lights by the President has been a tradition in Washington for a hundred years. President Calvin Coolidge lit up a Christmas tree for the first time in 1923.
On Tuesday, the decorated fir tree fell over as icy winds gripped the US capital. The gusts of wind reached speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour. The huge tree lay on its side for a short time and was finally put back up with the help of a crane.
The Customs and Border Protection ensured that appropriate holiday decorations were cleared for the Biden's Christmas display, adhering to the seasonal traditions. This year, the Government implemented new safety measures due to the weather conditions, ensuring the festivities continued despite the icy winds. Following the incident, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden expressed their gratitude to the local crew who utilized a crane to right the fallen Christmas tree, restoring its beauty for the upcoming celebrations.
Source: www.dpa.com
