Obama rocks around the Christmas tree! President in festive spirit as he meets Mariah Carey's daughter Monroe at lighting ceremony
- The tree lighting has been an annual White House tradition since 1923, during Calvin Coolidge's administration
- This was the 91st time the ceremony was held, and the fifth time it was hosted by the Obama family
Thousands in Washington attended the 91st Annual National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday for the chance to see the first family celebrate the holiday season, but it was one of the performer's children who got the closest to President Obama.
At the end of the ceremony, singer Mariah Carey joined the president on stage holding her two-year-old daughter Monroe.
The president is pictured smiling at Carey's toddler, who doesn't seem to recognize the president or that he's an important person.
After the event, Carey tweeted a picture of the meeting, saying 'What an honor to kick off the holiday season with the First Family'.
Scroll down for video
Earlier Christmas gift: Mariah Carey brought her daughter Monroe to the ceremony, where she got the chance to meet the president
President Obama takes dancing notes from a festively dressed child as he closes out the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Pictured with Mariah Carey (right), one of the events performers, holding her daughter Monroe
Holiday showcase: Singer Mariah Carey performed at the event, and brought her family on stage at the end
At the beginning of the ceremony, first daughters Sasha and Malia Obama joined their parents on stage to flip the switch and turn on the lights to the National Christmas Tree.
President
Obama joked that he would only count down from five to light the tree,
since he didn't want to keep anyone waiting in the rainy weather.
'It's a little wet out there, so we shouldn't start at 10,' the president said.
The president then flipped the switch and the tree sprung into multicolored life.
Glowing: This year's Christmas tree features rows of large white bauble lights, and thousands of multicolored LED lights
Family affair: The entire Obama family turned out tonight to turn on the lights of the National Christmas Tree across from the White House
Illuminated: President Obama waves at the crowd, flanked by daughter Malia and the event's host Jane Lynch, from the television show Glee
Christmas carols: Following the lighting, Aretha Franklin came out to sing 'Joy to the World'
Story time: Mrs Obama read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to children at the ceremony tonight
Dreaming of a rainy Christmas? Despite the poor weather, thousands gathered across from the White House to witness the event tonight
The dramatic lighting was followed by performances from Aretha Franklin, who sang 'Joy to the World', and Mariah Carey, who performed her own song 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'. Mrs Obama read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to the events younger attendees.About 17,000 people were expected to turn out for the event.
This was the fifth time that the event has been hosted by the Obama family, since their first year at the White House for Christmas in 2009.
Photos of the girls this year show just how much they've grown in the past five years. Both Obama girls are nearly as tall as both of their parents now.
First Christmas: The Obamas celebrate their first Christmas in the White House at the tree lighting ceremony on December 3, 2009
Getting bigger: At the ceremony in 2010
Third year: Sasha Obama was still very much shorter than both of her parents at the ceremony in 2011
Last Christmas: Sasha and Malia helped dad turn the light on at last year's event
The ceremony became an annual White House tradition in 1923 during the Calvin Coolidge Administration when first lady Grace Coolidge allowed DC public schools to erect a Christmas tree on the White House Ellipse.
On Christmas Eve, President Coolidge lit the tree by walking onto a the Ellipse and pressing a button.
Every year since then, the White House has had a designated National Christmas Tree.
Lighting
the tree was stopped briefly from 1942 to 1944, during World War II but
took up again in 1945 when President Truman lit the tree.
An American tradition: The National Tree Lighting Ceremony has been an annual White House tradition since 1923. Above, pictures from the 1940 (left) and 1958 (right) ceremonies
'This
is the Christmas 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,' President Truman said at the ceremony.
Following President
Kennedy's assassination on November 22, 1963, the ceremony was postponed until exactly 30 days later to observe the period of national
mourning.
'Today we come to the end of a season of great
national sorrow,' President Johnson said at the ceremony, 'and to the
beginning of the season of great, eternal joy.'
The tree
lighting made some major changes during the most recent Bush
administration, when LED lights were used to decorate the tree and make
it more energy-efficient.
- Kid stands up to bully and amazingly takes him down using...
- Bloody battle follows as toilet snake BITES man's penis
- Chicago ballerinas show flashy moves to Jason Derulo's music
- Dr Pimple Popper embarks on another extreme spot popping...
- 'Trump fan' tries to intimidate muslim women in ice-cream...
- Inside the Redneck Yacht Club where there are very few rules
- Incredible moment 156 Beagle's are freed from animal testing
- Audience goes crazy over a senior's talent show trick
- Casey Anthony re-emerges as her lawyer makes shocking claims
- 'SexExpert' Jarly performing a sultry lap dance
- Rosie O'Donnell launches tirade at Trump during concert
- Cute puppy can't stop playing with a springy doorstop
- Casey Anthony out of hiding: Smiling mom buys a new car one...
- FBI has STILL not questioned Hillary about her emails, says...
- Every man's worst nightmare: Python sinks its fangs into...
- Jennifer Aniston's estranged mom dies aged 79 just two weeks...
- 'When you find my body, please call my husband and...
- 'I was molested and passed around': Corey Feldman details...
- The secret sky gardens of New York: Stunning aerial pictures...
- Welcome to the Redneck Yacht Club: Photographer documents...
- EXCLUSIVE: On-set tantrums, 'p***ing off' sponsors and...
- PIERS MORGAN: You’re 52-years-old, Johnny and it’s time to...
- Obamas lease $4.3 million home in tony DC neighborhood -...
- Family of young mom, 21, left brain damaged after botched...