The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is found in New York City's Rockefeller Center, and is lit every December or late-November, an event usually broadcast on NBC in the United States. The tree, usually a Norway spruce 75 to 90 feet tall, has been put up since 1931, and has grown to be a New York City tradition.

A helicopter scouts homeowners' yards for the desired tree, in areas ranging from Connecticut, Vermont, Ohio, and Ottawa. Once a suitable tree is located, a crane supports it while it is cut, and moves it to a custom telescoping trailer that can transport trees up to 125 feet tall.

Once at the Rockefeller Center, the tree is supported by four guide wires attached at its midpoint, and by a steel spike at its base. Scaffolding is put up around the tree to assist workers in putting up 30,000 lights attached to 5 miles of wiring. The star that has topped the tree since 2004 is 9.5 feet in diameter and weighs 550 pounds. ^[1]

The tradition began during the Depression-era construction of Rockefeller Center, when workers decorated a small balsam fir tree with "strings of cranberries, garlands of paper, and even a few tin cans", as recounted by Daniel Okrent in his book, Great Fortune: The Epic of Rockefeller Center,^[2]

The decorated tree remains lighted at Rockefeller Center until the week after New Year's Day, when it is removed and recycled for a variety of uses, including mulch, while the largest part of the tree is used for jumping by the United States Equestrian Team.

The first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, erected by construction workers in 1931 shortly after the site was cleared.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree of 2005.

See also

• National Christmas Tree
• General Grant tree

References

Sources

• The Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center ISBN 0-9650308-7-3
• "Christmas Tech". Modern Marvels. 2006-12-20.
• Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Facts. WNBC.com.

External links

• 2006 Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Image Gallery
• History of Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
• Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree facts

Christmas
Main	History • The Nativity • Bringers of gifts • Decorations • Economics • Customs • Arts and media
Christianity	Nativity of Jesus • Nativity scene • Jesus • Mary • Joseph • Archangel Gabriel • Three Wise Men • Adoration of the shepherds • Star of Bethlehem • King Herod • Massacre of the Innocents • Saint Nicholas Day • Twelfth Night • Epiphany (Christian) • Advent • Christmastide
Folklore	Father Christmas • Saint Nicholas • Santa Claus • Mrs. Claus • Santa Claus' reindeer • Rudolph • Elves • North Pole • Lapland • Rovaniemi • Frosty the Snowman • How The Grinch Stole Christmas • Ebenezer Scrooge • Other characters
Traditions	Twelve Days of Christmas • Christmas tree • Wassailing • Yule log • Stockings • Ornaments • Lights • Christmas markets • Plants • Food • Feasts • Events • Traditions by country: Philippine, Polish, Worldwide
Media	Fiction • Films • Plays • Television: Episodes, Specials • Music: Albums, Hit singles and tracks, Carols, Other Christmas music and songs
Society	Christmas controversy • Christmas creep • Christmas truce • Language • Black Friday • White Christmas • Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 • Related holidays • List of winter festivals

Donate to Wikimedia