On December 24, 1923, President Calvin Coolidge lit the first "White House community Christmas tree" in Washington, DC with just the touch of a button. While there had been other trees in DC, this tree was meant to be the National Christmas Tree, rather than a Washington, DC Christmas tree.
The tradition continued until World War II. During America's participation in World War II, the National Christmas Tree was not lit until 1945. President Truman called the Christmas of 1945 one that "a war-weary world has prayed for through long and awful years. With peace comes joy and gladness. The gloom of the war years fades as once more we light the National Community Christmas Tree."
In 1963, the lighting of the Christmas tree was again the turning point from grief to joy. After the assassination of President Kennedy on November 22, the lighting of the tree was postponed until after the mandatory 30 days of mourning. President Johnson said, "Tonight we come to the end of the season of great national sorrow, and to the beginning of the season of great, eternal joy. We mourn our great president, John F. Kennedy, but he would have us go on. While our spirits cannot be light, our hearts need not be heavy."
Through happy celebrations and sorrowful times, the lighting of the National Christmas Tree has signaled a moment to reflect and to celebrate joy. At this year's lighting ceremony, President Obama spoke about the families of the victims of the San Bernadino terrorist attack: "This is of course the most wonderful time of the year, but we would be remiss not to take a moment to remember our fellow Americans whose hearts are heavy tonight. Grieve for loved ones, especially in San Bernadino, California. Their loss is our loss too. For we are all one American family. We look out for each other, in good times and in bad. They should know that all of us care about them this holiday season. They are in our thoughts, they are in our prayers and we send them our love."
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