The Story Behind the World’s Most Famous Christmas Tree

Origins & Tradition

• The first tree to ever stand at Rockefeller Center was put up in 1931, during the Great Depression. Construction workers building the Center pooled their money to buy a modest 20-foot balsam fir, decorating it with handmade garlands, paper chains, even strings of cranberries and tin cans — just to bring a little hope and holiday spirit to the city.
• By 1933, that tradition went public: a 50-foot tree was erected with 700 lights, and the first official tree-lighting ceremony was held — planting the seed for what would become an iconic yearly celebration.

The Modern Marvel

• Today’s tree is typically a tall Norway spruce — often between 69 and 100 feet high (though most are around 75–80 feet).
• The 2025 tree, for example, is a Norway spruce from East Greenbush, New York. Once at Rockefeller Center, it’s wrapped in more than 50,000 energy-efficient, multicolored LED lights, spread across roughly five miles of wiring.
• Crowning the tree is a dazzling star: since 2018, the topper has been a 900-pound Swarovski crystal star, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind. The star is adorned with 3 million crystals and features 70 lighted spikes — a dramatic, modern twist on the classic holiday tree star.

What It Costs (and What It’s Worth)

• Interestingly — and somewhat magically — the tree itself is almost always donated by a private homeowner rather than bought.
• If someone did buy a comparable tree, estimates suggest a 69–100 ft. spruce might cost around $20,000 just for the tree.
• But when you factor in transporting a massive tree into Manhattan, installing it safely, stringing lights, building scaffolding, powering 50,000+ bulbs each night for about 40–45 days, plus the star topper — the full “price tag” of putting up the tree likely reaches tens of thousands of dollars, sometimes estimated at $70,000+ when all costs are included.

The Crowd & The Magic

• The tree has been a national tradition since 1933, and, by many accounts, is visited by millions of people every year — tourists and New Yorkers alike. Official estimates suggest around 125 million people “visit” the attraction (in person or via broadcasts) annually.
• For many, it’s not just about the lights — it’s about nostalgia, hope, tradition. For as long as the tree has stood, it’s been a focal point: a gathering place, a celebration of community, and a reminder of holiday spirit even in the coldest concrete jungle.

Why It Matters — and Why It Fits the Season

The iconic tree represents more than just lights and height. It’s about tradition — humble beginnings in hard times — and community. Just like the first workers who hung paper chains and cranberries, or modern families donating their backyard spruce, the tree shows what community really looks like: generosity, shared joy, and a little bit of magic.

For those who’ve walked through a winter in a big city or tagged along on a family holiday trip, seeing that tree lit for the first time can feel like discovering Christmas all over again. It’s the same spirit I feel when I think about my childhood trips to NYC with my mom, skating, lights, family warmth — and now bringing that spirit to my new home at LionShare.