US Festive Season Starts: President Lights National Christmas Tree

dynamitenews.com
New Delhi/ 05Dec. US President Barack Obama lights the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse in President's Park in Washington, DC on Thursday. For the 93rd year in a row, a crowd braved the cold to see the President light the tree to jump start the festive season. 

This year's festive event, which also featured a variety of musical performances, is taking place under somber circumstances a day after a radicalized Muslim married couple killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California. President appealed to Americans to ‘come together as brother and sisters’. As a backdrop to the ceremony, the U.S. flag flew at half-staff atop the White House, on Obama's orders, in remembrance of the victims.

The president was joined by his wife Michelle, daughters Malia and Sasha, and his mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, as well as Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoon for the ceremony.