 The 1954 Pageant of Peace was held on December 17, 1954.The Ellipse became the site of the National Community Christmas Tree, and cut trees were used because Park Service officials felt that a living tree would interfere with the various cultural and recreational events on the Ellipse at other times of the year.The "pageant of peace" theme was intended to echo the words of the angels ("Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men") during the Annunciation to the shepherds as found in the Authorized King James Version of the New Testament.