As a Jersey girl growing up, I have always had the opportunity to go into NYC during Christmastime to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. I was always dazzled and amazed by its stature, countless lights, and the dazzling star atop the tree. But living so close to NYC, I never realized how popular and famous this tree, year after year, really was.
What I didn’t know, and according to The Rockefeller Center, is that the tree lighting has taken place for over seven decades! It is a world-wide symbol of the holiday season in Manhattan. In fact, where the tree stands was once a gathering place where workers stood in line to collect their paychecks during the Great Depression. But today, over half a million people pass by the tree daily!
On top of that, for the tenth year in a row, the tree will be donated to Habitat for Humanity after the Holiday season. The lumber will be used to build homes, as the tree continues to serve as a symbol of hope.
The tree lighting for 2016 will be on Wednesday, November 30th at 20 Rockefeller Plaza. It is free to all who wish to attend, but it is best to arrive early for prime viewing. If you aren’t feeling the cold weather and standing around for hours, you can always watch it on NBC from 7-9pm and enjoy the live musical performances from your cozy couch. If you can’t make it to the lighting ceremony, make sure you see it before the tree comes down on January 7th! The tree will be lit from 5:30-11:30 and you can ice skate right beneath it.
Happy Holidays HCxoxo!