The Rockefeller Christmas tree has invited the world into New York City for years, one of the holiday traditions that continues to stay strong throughout pandemics, shutdowns, and cultural clashes. As of 2019, more than a half-million people pass by the tree each day while it is on display, according to The Rockefeller Center. The tradition of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree in New York City has been well-established since 1931. The first tree originated when immigrants from Italy, Greece, and Ireland decided to decorate a small 20-foot tree with tin cans and cranberries during the Great Depression. This was not the first official tree however– the first one was installed in 1933 and was 50 feet tall. The iconic skating rink opened in 1936.
The process of selecting a tree starts with a man named Erik Pauze. He has been the head gardener at the Rockefeller Center for over four decades, scouting out 100 different trees a year. Specifically, he looks for the perfect Norway Spruce. Pauze says that the process of choosing the iconic tree is somewhat different every year. He looks for trees across the United States, specifically in six different states, including Massachusetts and Connecticut. This year’s tree was donated by the Russ family from East Greenbush, New York. It is 75 feet tall, and has been on the Russ’ property for over 60 years. Judy Russ, the owner of the house where it came from, said donating the tree would be the perfect way to hold her late husband in her memory after he passed away, adding that it could now be seen by millions.
Pauze became familiar with this tree after a security guard at the Center showed him the photo. He knew it was perfect right away, seemingly growing a bond with it and returning multiple times this year to water and nurture it.
Many people worry about the health of the tree since it is removed from its natural environment. However, it should be noted that The Rockefeller Center recycles the trees they’ve used, a consistent practice since 2007. In this process, they turn it into mulch and disperse it across the borough of Manhattan. The 2025 tree will be turned into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, The Center recently switched to using LED lights instead of the energy-inefficient ones that they were using beforehand. These new lights use 1,200 fewer kilowatt hours of electricity per day compared to what it originally was. There are more than 50,000 LED-powered lights on five miles of wire that wraps around the tree.
As New York City braces for another surge of tourism during this holiday season, many people flock to these two massive focal points of Christmas. Annually, New York City earns over 500 million dollars just based off of the holiday season. Ultimately, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree stands not just as a holiday decoration, but as a symbol of resilience, remembrance, and unity that continues to draw the world to New York City year after year.
