Soon, the city will be a sparkling epicenter for holiday magic as tree lightings will illuminate every corner of the city. But the most famous Christmas tree in New York remains the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree that recently arrived in the plaza!
This year’s tree stretches 80 feet tall and 43 feet in diameter. It was donated by the McGinley family, and hails from Vestal, New York.
And before it gets adorned with thousands of lights and topped with a massive Swarovski crystal star, let’s take a look at a few fun facts you probably didn’t know about this annual tradition.
1. Eric Pauze, the head gardener of Rockefeller Center, has selected the tree for the past 30 years
2. Preparations for finding the next year’s tree begins at the start of the year
3. The Rockefeller Tree is always a Norway Spruce
4. The first Rockefeller Christmas Tree went up in 1931
5. However, it wasn’t until 1933 that the annual tree lighting ceremony began
6. An estimated 125 million people come see the Rockefeller Center tree each year
7. The tallest Rockefeller Center Christmas tree to date was in 1999 and topped out at 100 feet
8. The Swarovski tree topper weighs 900 pounds
9. The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree abided blackout mandates during WWII and remained unlit for some of it
10. Since 2007, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has been donated to Habitat for Humanity after being milled into lumber, post holidays