U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is seen after being lit by House Speaker John Boehner and Ryan Shuster, 17, of Colorado Springs, Colo., not pictured, on the Capitol grounds in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012. A tradition since 1964, this year's tree is a 65-foot Engelmann spruce from White River National Forest in Colorado.

2012 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, assisted by Ryan Shuster, a senior at Discovery Canyon Campus, Colorado Springs, Colo., are seen after flipping on the lights on the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree during ceremonies December 4, 2012, on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol

2012 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree arrives

A crane lowers the Capitol Christmas Tree into position on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on November 26, 2012 in Washington.

2011 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony

Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, lights up the 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree with seven-year-old Johnny Crawford of Sonora, Calif., at the West Front of the Capitol, December 6, 2011 in Washington, D.C.

2011 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree arrives

The Capitol Christmas Tree is installed by workers of the office of the Architect of the Capitol November 28, 2011 in Washington, DC. The 2011 tree was a 65-foot-tall Sierra White Fir from the Stanislaus National Forest in California.

2010 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony

The U.S. Navy band plays after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., lit the Capitol Christmas Tree in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on December 7, 2010.

2010 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree arrives

The U.S. Capitol Christmas tree is hoisted onto the West Front of the Capitol on November 29, 2010 in Washington, D.C. The 2010 tree was an Englemann spruce and was harvested from Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming.

2007 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi speaks with Montana Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester before the Capitol Christmas Tree was lit on December 2, 2008 in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The tree was a 70-foot tall Subalpine Fir from Montana's Bitterroot National Forest.

2007 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony

A crowd gathers for the annual lighting of the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree on the West Front of the Capitol December 5, 2007 in Washington, D.C. The 2007 tree, a 55-foot balsam fir from Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest, was decorated with strands of energy-efficient LED lights as part of the Capitol's commitment to save energy.

2007 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony

Snow falls during the annual lighting of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree on the West Front of the Capitol December 5, 2007 in Washington, D.C.

2005 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony

People gather around the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree after it was lit December 8, 2005 in Washington, D.C. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., pushed the button to light the tree which was donated by the state of New Mexico.

2004 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree after being lit in front of the U.S. Capitol building, December 9, 2004 in Washington, D.C. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., hosted the official tree lighting ceremony. The 79-year-old red spruce from Virginia weighed approximately 9,200 hundred and was 67 feet tall.

1964 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree arrives

The 1964 Capitol Christmas Tree, a Douglas fir, arrived at the Capitol Grounds to be planted as a permanent Christmas tree on the West Front of the Capitol. The live 24-foot tree was purchased for $700 from Buddies Nurseries of Birdsboro, Pa. Each year through 1967 this tree was decorated and a tree-lighting ceremony was held. Unfortunately, a combination of factors, including a severe wind storm in the spring of 1967 and root damage, caused the tree to die in 1968; it was removed in the same year.

1964 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree arrives

The 1964 Capitol Christmas Tree, a Douglas fir, arrived at the Capitol Grounds to be planted as a permanent Christmas tree on the West Front of the Capitol. The live 24-foot tree was purchased for $700 from Buddies Nurseries of Birdsboro, Pa. Each year through 1967 this tree was decorated and a tree-lighting ceremony was held. Unfortunately, a combination of factors, including a severe wind storm in the spring of 1967 and root damage, caused the tree to die in 1968; it was removed in the same year.

2008 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony

The 2008 Capitol Christmas Tree stands on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol after a lighting ceremony December 2, 2008 in Washington, D.C. The 70-foot-tall Subalpine Fir was a gift of the state of Montana and it was decorated by ornaments handmade by schoolchildren of the state.

2009 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony

The 2009 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, an 85-foot blue spruce from the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona, was lit December 8, 2009 in Washington, D.C.