For more than eight decades, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has stood as a holiday beacon for New Yorkers and visitors alike. While the lights, decorations, and stars have changed through the years, visiting the Tree remains a quintessential New York experience.
The Rockefeller Christmas tree tradition began in 1931 when construction workers at Rockefeller Center erected the first tree during the Great Depression to boost spirits. It has since evolved into a major holiday event featuring a large tree, decorated with thousands of LED lights and a star, and lit in a public ceremony broadcast live on TV. After the holiday season, the tree is donated to Habitat for Humanity to be turned into lumber for building homes.
How big is the star on the Tree?
Designed by architect Daniel Libeskind in 2018, the three dimensional Swarovski star weighs approximately 900 pounds (408.23 kg) and features 70 spikes covered in 3 million crystals.
