From October onwards, we lurch from one festive celebration to the next. First it’s Halloween, then Thanksgiving. To end it all, we get Christmas and New Year’s.

Part of the local holiday celebrations is the Lighting of the National Christmas Tree, set for December 1. The tree, located on the Ellipse in front of the White House, is slowly starting to take shape for the big day. If it looks smaller than in years past, there’s a reason, according to the National Park Service:

The current National Christmas Tree replaces another Colorado blue spruce replanted on the Ellipse in 1978. Damaged by a wind storm in February 2011, the 1978 tree was replaced by the current tree the following month. The newest National Christmas Tree measures approximately 26 feet, 4 inches – and growing!

In related news, today President Obama and family gave the thumbs up for a Christmas tree from Wisconsin for their residence.