Capitol Christmas tree lights up Washington

Crowds gathered in front of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday evening to watch as Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) presided over the 55th annual lighting of the Capitol Christmas tree.

This year’s tree — a 60-foot blue spruce — comes from the Carson National Forest in New Mexico. All five members of the state’s congressional delegation joined Pelosi at the ceremony, as did New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D).

“For the New Mexicans in the crowd and watching from home tonight, this is a special, special night for us, as we share a little bit of the Land of Enchantment with the United States of America,” Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) said.

The Capitol tree won’t be the only piece of New Mexico decorating Washington this holiday season. Carson National Forest announced that 70 smaller trees will soon decorate other federal government buildings and public areas in the nation’s capital.

New Mexico also contributed more than 10,000 handmade ornaments for the Capitol tree.

“The thousands of ornaments that adorn the branches … represent the beautiful diversity of New Mexico, and therefore of our nation,” Pelosi said.

“This season we give thanks for our many blessings and delight in the excitement of our children’s faces as we light the Capitol tree,” Pelosi added before she was joined by a fourth-grader from New Mexico to light the tree.

The Capitol Christmas tree will be lit up from sunset until 11 p.m each day through Jan. 1. A second Washington tree-lighting tradition will take place Thursday evening, when President Trump and first lady Melania Trump preside over the lighting of the White House Christmas tree.