The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is one of the most-celebrated holiday decorations in New York City, and one of the most-visited attractions for residents and tourists. Established in 1933, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has become an iconic representation of the Christmas spirit in New York City. Thousands of tourists flock to New York each year to see the tree lighting spectacle every Christmas.

History

The tradition started when 30 Rockefeller Plaza (home to the Christmas tree) opened in 1933 during the Depression. Upon construction of the Rockefeller Center, workers festooned a 20 foot Balsam Fir on Christmas Eve, amidst the mud and debris, with "strings of cranberries, garlands of paper, and even a few tin cans", as described by Daniel Okrent in his Great Fortune: The Epic of Rockefeller Center.

The Type of Tree

Today, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a 75 to 90 feet tall and is usually a Norway Spruce, which is unofficially chosen each year by the Rockefeller Center gardens director. The tree is brought in months before its display, as Norway Spruces grow naturally in Europe but not in the United States. Norway Spruces are usually grown as decorative trees, but they can grow to cyclopean proportions, as tall as 110 feet. The Rockefeller Center maintains that their official Christmas tree rings in at a hefty 65 feet tall and 35 feet wide.

Each year, the Rockefeller Center collects photographs from people all over North America and offering their evergreens for the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree display. During winter months, finding the perfect tree is done by helicopter. To steer clear of traffic congestion as common in the streets of New York City, the special tree is typically moved into the heart of Manhattan, receiving VIP treatment during the night through a chosen police-escorted route.

Green Christmas Tree

Erected and supported by four large wires, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree stands tall and proud. On its base is a supporting steel spike to help it stand upright, whatever the weather. Over the last couple of years, LED Christmas lights have replaced the energy-consuming incandescent bulbs. It’s New York City’s way of staying and living the “Green” lifestyle during the festive season.

In addition, the Rockefeller Center has accommodated an enormous arrangement of solar panels on the roof of its buildings, helping to produce the electric current required to illuminate the tree. Since 2004, topping the tree is the Swarovski Star created by Michael Hammers, a German artist and lighting designer. When the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is dismantled, it was used to supply lumber for the construction of the Habitat for Humanity building.

Significance

Usually lit after Thanksgiving, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has been an attraction for over 70 years. It marks the beginning of the holidays for many New York City tourists and residents. Many converge at the foot of the Christmas tree to see its spectacular view. Greener than ever, the Rockefeller Christmas tree is an iconic national tradition and treasure that many of the New Yorkers cherish.