The holiday season has kicked off in New York City as the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree completed its 200-mile journey to Manhattan.
The 76-foot Norway spruce was carefully lifted onto a flatbed truck and transported from a property in West Edmeston, New York, to Rockefeller Plaza on Nov. 7.
Over the next several weeks, crews will work to position, secure, and decorate the tree ahead of its highly anticipated lighting ceremony on Dec. 2.
At approximately 75 years old, the conifer measures about 50 feet in diameter. Once installation is complete, the tree will be covered with more than 50,000 multicolored LED lights.
A 900-pound Swarovski star will also be placed at the top, completing the centerpiece of the annual holiday display.
The tree was originally spotted six years ago by Erik Pauze, Rockefeller Center’s head gardener, who has been responsible for selecting the center’s Christmas tree for more than three decades.
“Immediately saw the shape of it, and I knew it was perfect,” Pauze said on “Today” on Nov. 6.
However, it was not until earlier this year that Pauze approached the property’s owner, Rebecca Decker, to discuss using the tree for the annual display.
Decker, a mother of three, initially thought the unexpected visit was a joke. She explained that she was surprised anyone would travel to her rural property specifically to select her tree.
“I thought that he was absolutely joking,” Decker said on Today. “I was like, ‘I live in the middle of nowhere.’ I definitely thought it was fake at first.”
“To me, it’s pretty big,” she said. “I am super excited for them [her children] to be able to experience this.”
The 94th annual lighting ceremony will be broadcast on NBC and stream on Peacock. The event will feature musical performances and special guests as part of the celebration.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has been a holiday tradition for decades, attracting thousands of visitors to Midtown Manhattan throughout the season.
Tourists travel from across the globe to take photographs, admire the decorations, and experience the festive atmosphere surrounding the plaza.
During the center’s “Meet the Tree Day” festivities over the weekend, families had the opportunity to participate in holiday workshops. Activities included writing seasonal letters, contributing acts of kindness to The Caring Tree, and creating handmade keepsakes.
The tradition began in 1931, when construction workers building Rockefeller Center put up a Christmas tree during the Great Depression. The first official tree lighting ceremony followed in 1933.
Rockefeller Center joined forces with “Habitat for Humanity” in 2007. Tishman Speyer donates the lumber milled from the tree to Habitat and donates the tree to the foundation when it comes down after Jan. 9.
In turn, the lumber milled from the tree is used to help a family build their Habitat home, something the CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, Jonathan Reckford, says is one of the true meanings of the holidays.
“The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is a reminder to reflect, be thankful, and to remember to give back to others among the hustle and bustle of the holidays. That symbol will live on as part of Habitat homeowners’ lives in their new houses.”
