California Capitol Christmas Tree

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The California Capitol Christmas Tree (known as the California Capitol Holiday Tree between 1999 and 2003) is an annually erected decorated tree outside the California State Capitol in Sacramento, California, United States. Initiated in 1950, [1] the tree has been a tradition ever since and is decorated during the second week of December each year.

In December 1999, during his first Christmas season in office, Governor Gray Davis changed the name of the tree to the California Capitol Holiday Tree, a spokesperson describing this as a name that "more accurately symbolizes the diversity of what the holidays are in California". [2] After the 2003 California recall, Gray Davis was replaced with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who changed the name back [2] from the Christmas of 2004. A similar occurrence took place with the Capitol Christmas Tree in Washington, DC, which took on the "holiday" generic name from 19992005.

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References

  1. "Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Celebrates California's Diverse Residents". 5 December 2019.
  2. 1 2 Koseff, Alexei (15 December 2016). "California Capitol latest statehouse to get Nativity scene" . Retrieved 28 September 2020.

Coordinates: 38°34′37″N121°29′40″W / 38.5769°N 121.4945°W / 38.5769; -121.4945