Nancy Pelosi lights Christmas Tree at the Capitol

Pelosi said, "Tonight, we gather once more before this symbol of peace and hope."

The 55-foot Engelmann spruce came from Colorado.

The pared back ceremony comes as U.S. health experts on Wednesday welcomed British emergency approval of Pfizer Inc's COVID-19 vaccine, a sign that U.S. regulators may soon follow suit in a bid to bring the surging pandemic under control.