California Capitol Christmas Tree

The California Capitol Christmas Tree (1950–1999; 2004–present), formerly California Capitol Holiday Tree (1999–2004), is an annually erected decorated tree in Sacramento, California, United States. Initiated in 1950, the tree has been a tradition ever since and is decorated during the second week of December each year.

Controversy

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, for specifically unknown reasons. After the 2003 California recall, Gray Davis was replaced with Arnold Schwarzenegger. The name remained as "holiday" for December 2003, but Schwarzenegger renamed it in time for Christmas of 2004. A similar occurrence took place with the Capitol Christmas Tree in Washington, DC, whereas it took on the "holiday" generic name from 1999–2005.