The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a huge Christmas tree that is placed annually at Rockefeller Center, in Midtown Manhattan. This tree was established in mid-November and was lit in public ceremony in late November or early December. Since 1997, the lighting has been broadcast live, up to hundreds of millions, on NBC's Christmas event at Rockefeller Center on Wednesday after Thanksgiving. The tree lighting ceremony is broadcasted at the end of every broadcast, after live entertainment and the tree is lit by the current Mayor of New York and special guests. An estimated 125 million people visit attractions every year.
The tree, typically 69- to 100-foot-tall Norwegian pine trees (21 to 30 m), has become a national tradition every year since 1933. The 2017 Christmas Tree lighting took place on 29 November 2017; the tree remains on display until January 7, 2018.
Video Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Selection and decoration
Trees have traditionally been donated to Rockefeller Center, which in turn donates timber after display. Until his death in 2009, the late David Murbach, Division Manager of the Rockefeller Center Gardens, sought the desired tree in northern New York and surrounding countries, and even Ottawa, Canada.
The trees are now nurtured by Erik Pauzà ©  ©, Head Gardener at Rockefeller Center. PauzÃÆ'  © visited the nursery gardens throughout the tri-state area while watching out for the one-of-a-kind backyard trees. Trees may also be submitted for consideration through the Rockefeller Center website. PauzÃÆ' © and his team choose trees every year based on politeness and "Christmas tree shape," as well as its ability to support heavy ornaments.
After the tree is selected, the crane supports the tree when it is cut, then moves to a special telescoping game that can transport the tree to a height of 125 feet (38 m), although the city's road width around Rockefeller Center limits the tree's altitude to 100 feet (30 m). Local business Christmas Tree Brooklyn provides support in delivering the tree safely to the city. On their way to Manhattan, the tree is often dressed up with gigantic red bow or banners extending holiday greetings to witnesses. Trucks, barges, and even transport planes have all been used to help the tree travel.
Once at Rockefeller Center, the tree is supported by four male wires attached at its midpoint and by a steel surge at the base. Scaffolds were erected around the trees to help workers hang about 50,000 multi-colored LED lights and the top stars. The crystal star at the top of the tree since 2004 has a diameter of 9.5 meters (2.9 m) and weighs 550 pounds (250 kg). This "Swarovski star", which contains 25,000 Swarovski crystals, 1 million facets, and LED lights, was created by German artist Michael Hammers.
Maps Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
History
Although the official Christmas tree tradition at Rockefeller Center began in 1933 (the 30th year Rockefeller Plaza opened), an unofficial tradition began during the construction of the Depression-Center era, when the workers decorate a smaller 20 foot (6.1 m) balsam with "string cranberries, paper bouquets, and even some cans "on Christmas Eve (December 24, 1931), as Daniel Okrent recounts in his history of Rockefeller Center. According to the Rockefeller Center, workers collected their money for the unlit tree, with bouquets made by workers' families.
With the first official tree lights as high as 50 feet (15 m) two years later, the tree became what Rockefeller Center called a "holiday beacon for New Yorkers and visitors." The skating rink was opened under a tree in the square in 1936. Rockefeller Center has observed the tree to be "from the beginning... a gathering place and a reflection of what is going on in the world around it."
World War II ushered in a simple, patriotic decoration, including non-glowing red, white and blue balls and painted wooden stars. In 1942, instead of one big tree, three simpler trees grew up, each decorated with one of the flag colors. From 1944 to the end of the war in 1945, the tree became dark because of the prohibition rules. After the war, years of darkness were left behind, when six ultraviolet light projectors were used to make it look as if the 700-year-old tree fluorescent trees glowed in the dark.
In the 1950s, workers began using scaffolding to decorate trees, because larger trees were accommodated. Before the decade ended, the decoration process called for 20 workers and nine days. 1951 marks the first time NBC broadcasts a special tree lighting on the The Kate Smith Show .
In 1969, rebel wire pioneer artist Valerie Clarebout was added to Channel Gardens in front of a tree near Fifth Avenue. Clarebout created 12 sculptures using 75 points of metal wire each.
The 1971 tree, 65 feet from Montpelier East, Vt., Is the first to be dug and recycled. It turned into 30 bags of three bushel rakes for the nature trail above Manhattan. Although the tree usually travels on truck beds, it was flown in 1998 from Richfield, Ohio on the world's largest transport plane.
1999 saw the tallest tree Rockefeller Center, 100 feet (30 m) pine from Killingworth, Conn. In 2001, after the events of September 11, the tree was decorated again in red, white and blue.
In 2007, the tree was "green", turned into energy-saving lighting with LEDs. LEDs use 1,200 kilowatts less electricity per day, enough to drive a 2,000 square foot home for a month.
Also since 2007, every year after display, the tree has been grounded in wood and donated to Habitat for Humanity for use in home construction.
The 2016 tree, Spruce Norway of Oneonta, N.Y., is at the height of 94 feet the second highest ever established at Rockefeller Center. With a width of 56 feet and more than 30,000 pounds, the tree is the widest and heaviest to date, according to the construction crew.
Since 2011, the tree lighting ceremony has been followed by Joy to the World song.
The decorated trees are still on display at Rockefeller Plaza, between 48 West and 51 Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues, at least until January 6 of the new year.
More than half a million people pass through the tree every day on display, according to the Rockefeller Center.
Broadcasting
Since 1997, the lighting ceremony has been broadcast live on NBC in primetime prime hours, living in the Eastern and Central time zones, and elsewhere. The ceremony is organized by Today's Al Roker (1997-present), Savannah Guthrie (2012-present), and Hoda Kotb (2017-present)
Annual tree details
- * Highest Tree in Record
See also
- National Christmas Tree
References
Bibliography
- Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center . ISBN: 0-9650308-7-3. Ã,
- "Christmas Technology". Modern Marvels . 2006-12-20. The History Channel. Archived from the original in 2007-05-16.
Further reading
- Moseman, Andrew (November 14, 2008). "How Riggers Raise Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree: Live on Scene". Popular Mechanics . Archived from the original on December 22, 2008 . Retrieved December 21, 2008 .
External links
- Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Image Gallery 2006
- NYC Insider Guide to Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting
- Christmas at Rockefeller Center, NBC.com
- Special tree decoration game, NBC.com
- Christmas at Rockefeller Center, NBC.com
- Happy Holidays from NBC ('08 -'09)
- Happy Holidays from NBC ('09 -'10)
- Holidays on NBC (2011)
- Tree Lighting Time at Rockefeller Center, NYSGO.com
- Swarovski Star
- A Rockefeller Christmas, The Rockefeller Archive Center
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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