Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

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Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree photographed in December 1987, a 75 ft (23 m) high Norway Spruce decorated with 18,000 lights

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a large Christmas tree placed annually in Rockefeller Center, in Midtown Manhattan. The tree is erected in early to mid November and lit in late November or early December. In recent years, the lighting has been broadcast live, nationwide, on NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center show and scheduled for the Wednesday after Thanksgiving.[1] The tree, usually a Norway spruce 69 to 100 feet (21 to 30 m) tall, has been put up every year since 1933.[2] The 2015 Christmas Tree Lighting took place on December 2 and will remain on display through January 6, 2016.[3]

Selection and decoration

Many Rockefeller trees were donated to Rockefeller Center. The late David Murbach,[4] Manager of the Gardens Division of Rockefeller Center, scouted in a helicopter for the desired tree in areas including Connecticut, New Jersey, upstate New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and even Ottawa, Canada.[5] The trees are now scouted by the Head Gardener at Rockefeller Center, Erik Pauzé. 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 (38 m) tall, although the width of New York City streets passing through Rockefeller Center limits the height of the trees to 110 feet (34 m).

Once at the Rockefeller Center, the tree is supported[6] by four guy-wires attached at its midpoint and by a steel spike at its base. Scaffolding is erected around the tree to assist workers in hanging 45,000 multi-colored, LED lights.[7]

The star that has topped the tree since 2004 is 9.5 feet (2.9 m) in diameter and weighs 550 pounds (250 kg). This "Swarovski Star" was created by German artist Michael Hammers, who in 2009 additionally designed his own star lighting production.[8][9]

History

Although the official Christmas tree tradition at Rockefeller Center began in 1933 (the year 30 Rockefeller Plaza opened), the unofficial tradition began during the Depression-era construction of Rockefeller Center, when workers decorated a smaller 20 feet (6.1 m) balsam fir tree with "strings of cranberries, garlands of paper, and even a few tin cans" on Christmas Eve (December 24, 1931), as recounted by Daniel Okrent in his history of Rockefeller Center.[10] One claim is the tree had some gum wrappers and detonator blasting caps as decorations. There was no Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 1932.[citation needed]

The decorated Christmas tree remains lit at Rockefeller Center through January 6, which is the Christian feast of The Epiphany. Then it is removed from the premises and recycled for a variety of uses. In 2007, the tree went "green", employing LED lights.[11] After being taken down, the tree was used to furnish lumber for Habitat for Humanity house construction.[12]

The tallest Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center was a 100 feet (30 m) spruce erected on November 11, 1999 that was being cared for by Cathy and Jim Thomson.[13]

The first Tree at Rockefeller Center, erected by construction workers in 1931 shortly after the site was cleared

Yearly Tree Details

Year Original Location Tree Type Height Lighting


2015 Gardiner, NY[14] Norway spruce 78 ft December 2, 2015
2014 Danville, PA[15] Norway spruce 85 ft December 3, 2014
2013 Shelton, CT[16] Norway spruce 76 ft December 4, 2013
2012 Flanders, NJ[17] Norway spruce 80 ft November 28, 2012
2011 Mifflinville, PA Norway spruce 74 ft November 30, 2011
2010 Mahopac, NY[18] Norway spruce 74 ft November 30, 2010
2009 Easton, CT[19] Norway spruce 76 ft December 2, 2009
2008 Hamilton, NJ[20] Norway spruce 72 ft December 3, 2008
2007 Shelton, CT[21] Norway spruce 84 ft November 28, 2007
2006 Ridgefield, CT[22] Norway spruce 88 ft November 29, 2006
2005 Wayne, NJ[23] Norway spruce 74 ft November 30, 2005
2004 Suffern, NY[24] Norway spruce 71 ft November 30, 2004
2003 Manchester, CT[24] Norway spruce 79 ft December 3, 2003
2002 Bloomsbury, NJ[25] Norway spruce 76 ft December 4, 2002
2001 Wayne, NJ Norway spruce 81 ft November 28, 2001
2000 Buchanan, NY[26] Norway spruce 80 ft November 29, 2000
1999 Killingworth, CT[27] Norway spruce 100 ft* December 1, 1999
1998 Richfield, OH[28] Norway spruce 75 ft December 2, 1998
1997 Stony Point, NY Norway spruce 70 ft
1996 Armonk, NY[29] Norway spruce 90 ft
1995 Mendham, NJ Norway spruce 75 ft
1994 Ridgefield, CT Norway spruce 85 ft
1986 Nanuet, NY[30] Norway spruce 68 ft
1963 Rockaway, NJ Bruce Fir, Veit 84 ft
1957 Brighton, VT[31] white spruce 67 ft
  • *Tallest Tree on Record

See also

References

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Bibliography

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Further reading

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External links

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