WASHINGTON -- For Christmas Eve, thousands huddled together at the White House Ellipse to witness the first official National Christmas Tree Lighting in 1923. To the sound of herald trumpets, President Calvin Coolidge lit the tree with the press of a button, sending the warm glow of electric lights onto the faces of bundled-up spectators. A carol service accompanied by a Marine Band brass quartet followed, and later a Christmas concert by the full Marine Band.
The gathering will take place once again on Nov. 30, 2022, celebrating the milestone 100th tree lighting, and again featuring music performed by the Marine Band. Other music artists such as Andy Grammer, Ariana Debose, Joss Stone, LL Cool J, Shania Twain, The Estefans and Yolanda Adams, will also make appearances.
For those without a ticket to the event, the program will be broadcast on CBS on Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. ET, offering a special opportunity to friends and families across the country to tune in and celebrate this holiday tradition from the comfort of home.
Learn more about the event
What eventually became the National Christmas Tree Lighting in 1923, was originally the lighting of the “Washington Community Christmas Tree” which began in 1913. The gathering outside the Capitol building that year boasted a crowd of 20,000 which enjoyed carols led by the Marine Band and a 1,000-voice choir. President Woodrow Wilson was also in attendance, although there isn’t evidence that he had the honor of throwing a switch to light the tree.
The event did not occur from 1915-1917 during World War I, but then after resumed and transformed into an official national event a few years later.
The 1923 event program explains more:
“Washington’s Community Christmas Tree is in fact the Nation’s Christmas Tree. It is symbolic of the spirit of Christmas and the desire to emphasize further the good will and the cheer which are so characteristic of the world’s greatest and most joyous festival.”
With a basis of good will, joy and cheer, the event rooted itself as a tradition and began developing and growing year after year, all the while including the Marine Band as an integral part of the display.
In 1954, the program was expanded and became known as the Pageant of Peace, in which 27 embassies participated over the course of many days, presenting music, dances and tableaux interpreting Christmas traditions in their countries. In addition to the larger national tree, an arrangement of smaller, decorated trees representing states, the District of Columbia and territories was also established as “The Pathway of Peace.”
“The Pageant of Peace is a voluntary expression of American citizens of every creed and race to dramatize the Christmas Message ‘Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men,’ the 1954 program said. “It is organized to foster friendship and understanding among all peoples; to reflect the unity of purpose that emanates from the diversity of traditions and backgrounds of mankind.”
Between 1923 and 1975, the Marine Band made annual performances at the National Christmas Tree Lighting, regularly performing carols with a choir and contributing a musical backdrop for bringing friends, family and neighbors together.
Subsequent performances by the Marine Band took place in 1979, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2020. As the festivities evolved, big names in entertainment were eventually invited to take part in the ceremony, and the band began supporting the celebrity performances. The Marine Band has performed with artists such as Aretha Franklin, Trisha Yearwood, Renee Fleming, Patti Labelle, Sia, Steve Miller, Jordin Sparks and Sheryl Crow, among others. The other premiere military bands were also eventually rotated in to support the event, making the Marine Band’s participation intermittent.
As the Marine Band prepares for its 63rd time performing at the Tree Lighting, it looks forward to continuing the legacy begun a century ago, bringing joy and the holiday spirit to Washington and across the country.