House speaker Nancy Pelosi led the official grand illumination of the Capitol Christmas Tree Tuesday night.

The 85-foot blue spruce was brought in earlier this month from Arizona's Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.

Seventh grader Kaitlyn Ferencik joined Pelosi for the lighting. It's tradition that a child from the tree's state help in the ceremony.

This year's Christmas tree is about 70-years-old and weighs more than 7,000 pounds.

Children from Arizona made nearly 6,000 ornaments to decorate the tree. Another 4,000 ornaments adorned the 80 companion trees throughout the Capitol Complex.

The Christmas tree has been an American tradition since 1964.