Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree: Fascinating Facts You Might Not Know

The First Tree

In December 1931, workers at the Rockefeller Center construction site put their money together for a 20-foot Christmas tree because they were thankful to have jobs during the Great Depression. The men decorated the tree with handmade garlands, streamers and ornaments made from tin cans.

Two years later, in 1933, Rockefeller put up a 50-foot tree, decorating it with 700 twinkling lights and organized the first official tree-lighting ceremony.

The Skating Rink

In 1936, not one, but TWO trees overlooked the newly opened Rockefeller Plaza Outdoor Ice Skating Pond. The lighting ceremony even included a skating pageant.

TV Debut

In 1951, NBC televised the first tree lighting on The Kate Smith Show, hosted by the "first lady of radio" herself. Since then, the tree lighting has featured several celebrities, musicians and hosts.

Energy-Efficient Tree

In 2007, the tree was lit with energy-efficient LEDs for the first time, reducing energy consumption from 3,510 kwH to 1,297 kwH per day (saving as much energy as a single family would use in a month in a 2,000-square-foot home, according to NBCNY.

The Lights and Star

Designed by architect Daniel Libeskind in 2018, the three dimensional Swarovski star atop the tree weighs approximately 900 pounds and features 70 spikes covered in 3 million crystals. There are more than 50,000 multi-colored LED lights on approximately 5 miles of wire.

2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting

The 88th Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on Wednesday, December 2nd will be closed to the public. The tree will be lit during a live national television broadcast on NBC from 7–10 pm (EST).