U.S. President Barack Obama brought his wife Michelle, daughters Sasha and Malia and his mother-in-law, who lives in the White House as well, along to the tree lighting ceremony
Christmas arrived in Washington on a frigid Thursday night.
With the flip of a switch, President Barack Obama lit the National Christmas Tree — a massive 40-foot Colorado blue spruce growing on a grassy area near the White House known as the Ellipse that is covered in lights and decorations.
Obama was accompanied by his wife Michelle, daughters Malia and Sasha, and his mother-in-law Marian Robinson – 'our grandmother-in-chief' - all bundled up against the cold.
The 40-foot Colorado blue spruce grows just across the way from White House
The first family appeared stunned at the tree's beauty when they flipped the switch to turn the lights on
It is unclear how long the giant spruce took to cover in lights for the occasion, as a time lapse video showed that it took dozens of staff to decorate the much small tree that sits inside of the White House.
In his remarks Thursday night the president said that the message of Christmas was one of 'love and redemption to every human being' as he and lit the tree.
That message was not just for Christians like himself and his wife but universal, he said.
The President shared a laugh and a cuddle with younger daughter Sasha, who was bundled up against the cold
'A child was born far from home to spread a simple message of love and redemption to every human being around the world.'
'It's a message that says no matter who we are or where we are from, no matter the pain we endure or the wrongs we face, we are called to love one another as brothers and as sisters.'
The president also urged everyone to pray for the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq before Michelle did a reading of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas.
The main tree is surrounded by 56 smaller trees representing the states, the District of Columbia and territories of the U.S.
The White House tree tradition dates to 1923, when President Calvin Coolidge presided over the lighting a national Christmas tree.
Mrs Obama read 'Twas The Night Before Christmas to a group of schoolchildren after her husband made a few remarks about the meaning of Christmas
Santa Claus joined the President and his daughters in the front row as they listed to the First Lady read
The 40-foot Colorado blue spruce grows just across the way from White House
The first family appeared stunned at the tree's beauty when they flipped the switch to turn the lights on
The President shared a laugh and a cuddle with younger daughter Sasha, who was bundled up against the cold
Mrs Obama read 'Twas The Night Before Christmas to a group of schoolchildren after her husband made a few remarks about the meaning of Christmas
Santa Claus joined the President and his daughters in the front row as they listed to the First Lady read
