The Christmas tree arrived in D.C. today! I don’t have any pictures of it yet. I think it’s still on the truck. I also don’t have any pictures of the Christmas truck, but I’m sure it’s radiant. The 2008 Capitol Christmas Tree is a 73 foot tall Alpine fir from Bitterroot National Forest in Montana. It was originally 100 feet tall in the ground or wherever it is you get trees. Montana is also providing over 75 smaller trees for various offices and agencies around D.C. I guess the missing 27 feet got split up and then grew into the 75 little trees? I’m not really sure how trees work.
- Fact: The Capitol Christmas Tree is known as “The People’s Tree,” or “America’s Tree.” There are no other culturally significant Christmas trees anywhere in America. There is a tree in New York that reflects the importance of the D.C. tree, the way the moon reflects the Sun. The New York tree just appears to be more important because it’s closer to anything anyone cares about. D.C.’s tree – a much bigger deal.
- Fact: America’s tree is a huge fire hazard! Every year, hundreds of nations are left without capitols because they forgot to turn off the tree at night, or let it get dry and flammable. Be sure to water the tree, America. They don’t water themselves, I think.
- Fact: There is also a National Christmas tree, which is lit by the President, on the Ellipse near the White House. That’s the one on TV with the C-list celebrities and the marching bands. But the Capitol Christmas tree, which is lit by the Speaker of the House, is the real Christmas tree.
- Fact: America’s neighbors, Canada and Mexico, have already sent a couple of very nice homemade ornaments for America’s tree. Oh, you really shouldn’t have, Canada and Mexico, this is so nice of you. Of course, maybe you should’ve asked what the tree theme is this year, but that’s great that you thought of us. No, we’re not going to put them on the tree, just yet, you know, ‘cause of the theme, but let’s just hang them here by the fireplace, dangling really low, near the flames.
- Fact: Montanans signed the truck as it went by. I think the truck slowed down? I don’t know much about trucks.
- Fact: The lights are strings of LEDs. Saving some energy there. Cool.
- The very, very best fact: You can track the tree, which has already arrived in D.C., online. Check it out. It’s a big interactive map with the current location of the tree. Can you guess where it is today? Can you predict where it will be tomorrow? I bet you can. Hint: it has already arrived in D.C.
- Bonus extra credit fact: What happens if you try to click and drag the tree to another location? Can you drag it back to Montana? Can you drag it into “North Atlantic Ocean?” (Fish have Christmas, too! Or do they?) Will that affect the actual location of the tree? And is this even a fact? Fact is, no.
Comments