The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting is New York City’s iconic holiday tradition, held each year when a massive fir tree is erected and spectacularly illuminated at Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. The ceremony, a festive mix of holiday music, glittering lights, and joyful crowds, marks the official start of the city’s Christmas season and draws locals and visitors from around the world to celebrate together. The tree, often a towering Norway spruce with tens of thousands of lights and topped with a shining star, transforms the plaza into a winter wonderland and signals the start of weeks of holiday festivities. The date of Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting is determined as follows: it happens on the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving. 1
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History of the tradition
The tradition began in 1931, when construction workers building Rockefeller Center pooled their money to erect a modest 20-foot balsam fir, decorated with handmade garlands, as a morale-boosting gesture during the Great Depression.
Two years later, in 1933, the first official tree lighting ceremony was held, turning what started as a simple tree into an annual holiday event for the City.
Over decades the spectacle has grown: trees became taller, decorations more elaborate, and since 1951 the lighting has been broadcast live, turning it into a national tradition shared by millions.
Why the tree lighting matters
The Lighting Ceremony symbolizes hope, unity, and holiday spirit, a beacon of warmth and joy amidst winter cold. For New Yorkers and global viewers alike, it’s a moment to pause, gather, and celebrate together, often kicking off festive traditions like ice skating, holiday shopping, and seasonal performances.
It also connects the present with history: the humble 1931 tree reminds us how a small gesture of kindness and community can grow into something beloved by millions.
- It marks the start of the holiday season in New York City.
- It brings together people from all over the world in a shared moment of joy and wonder.
- It blends holiday tradition with communal celebration, music, and lights.
- It showcases a mix of modest beginnings and modern spectacle, celebrating history and progress.
- It offers a symbolic reminder of unity and warmth during winter.
How to Experience the Tree Lighting
If you’re in New York or visiting, attending the Lighting Ceremony in person is magical, expect crowds, chilly air, holiday music, and a sense of wonder as the lights glow for the first time. If you can’t be there, the lighting is broadcast live on television and online, so you can enjoy the moment from anywhere.
Even after the ceremony, the tree remains lit for weeks, visit at night to see it sparkle, take photos with family or friends, enjoy nearby ice-skating at the rink, or simply stroll through the plaza and soak up the festive atmosphere.
Here are some simple ways to appreciate the tradition:
- Watch the live broadcast if you’re not in NYC.
- Visit Rockefeller Center at night to see the tree lit up.
- Combine your visit with ice-skating or holiday shopping nearby.
- Take photos with loved ones in front of the tree to capture festive memories.
- Reflect on the history and spirit of sharing and hope that the tradition represents.
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