The historic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lit up on the evening of Wednesday, December 5, marking the start of the holiday season in New York City (NYC). Thousands of visitors crowded into Midtown Manhattan to witness the annual lighting ceremony. People started the tradition in 1933, after they completed the construction of Rockefeller Plaza. They displayed the first tree, a 20-foot balsam fir, and held a small event for workers and their families. Over time, the ceremony grew into a major holiday tradition, drawing millions of spectators each year, according to history.com.
The 79-foot Norway Spruce tree from Gardiner, New York, took center stage at Rockefeller Plaza. The tree, adorned with more than 50,000 light emitting diode (LED) lights, topped with a 900-pound Swarovski star, stood for all to see. The public can enjoy the display through January 7, 2025. This year’s ceremony, broadcast live on National Broadcast Channel (NBC), featured musical performances from a variety of artists. The Today Show hosted the event, with anchors Ms. Hoda Kotb and Ms. Savannah Guthrie, leading the countdown to the lighting of the tree. At 9 p.m., NYC Mayor Eric Adams joined Ms. Kotb and Ms. Guthrie on stage to flip the ceremonial switch, illuminating the towering tree. The bright lights of the tree shone across the plaza, drawing in a crowd.
Singers Ms. Kelly Clarkson and Ms. Meghan Trainor and the cast of A Charlie Brown Christmas all took part in the festivities. In addition to the lighting, the event featured performances of holiday classics, with Trainor singing “The Christmas Song” and the cast of A Charlie Brown Christmas performing “O Holy Night.” Mr. Adolphe Adam composed the song in 1847, and has a powerful message and melody. The Peanuts characters, accompanied by a live orchestra, brought a sense of reverence to the performance.
The Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting has long been a staple of NYC’s holiday celebrations. The lighting ceremony, along with the display of the tree itself, draws millions of visitors to the city each year. The tree lighting attracts an estimated 500,000 people to the plaza, and millions more watch the live broadcast on television and online, according to nbc.com. For many, the event signals the beginning of the holiday season in NYC, alongside other traditions such as ice skating at Rockefeller Plaza and the elaborate holiday window displays along Fifth Avenue.
Beyond its role as a major holiday spectacle, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has come to embody the resilience and spirit of NYC. People from all over the world travel to Midtown Manhattan to experience the magic of the tree. As the tree illuminates each year, it reminds people of the city’s strength, its enduring traditions, and the shared sentiment of hope and celebration that defines the holiday season.
Featured Image by Sofia Latrille ’25
