The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
By Lucas Compan
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a world-wide symbol of the holidays in New York City. The 2018 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be lit for on Wednesday, November 28, with live performances from 7–9pm, at Rockefeller Plaza, between West 48th and West 51st Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Tens of thousands crowded the sidewalks for the event, and millions watched it live across the globe. The Tree will remain lit and can be viewed until 9 PM on January 7, 2019.
Vivere New York durante le Feste di Natale è come entrare in un sogno.
Watch: the story of the 2017 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
The History of the tree
(1931)
In December 1931, demolition workers at the Rockefeller Center construction site pooled their money together to buy a Christmas tree. The 20-foot high balsam fir was decorated with handmade garlands by the men’s families. This photo, taken on Christmas Eve, shows the men lined up to receive their wages. [ 20 feet (6.1 meters) tall, origin not on record]
In December 1931, demolition workers at the Rockefeller Center construction site pooled their money together to buy a Christmas tree. The 20-foot high balsam fir was decorated with handmade garlands by the men’s families. This photo, taken on Christmas Eve, shows the men lined up to receive their wages. [ 20 feet (6.1 meters) tall, origin not on record]
(1934)
Rockefeller Center decided to make the Christmas Tree an annual tradition and held the very first tree lighting ceremony. [50 feet (15 meters) tall, origin not on record]. Image:NYPL
Rockefeller Center decided to make the Christmas Tree an annual tradition and held the very first tree lighting ceremony. [50 feet (15 meters) tall, origin not on record]
(1936)
Two trees were erected at Rockefeller Center and a skating pageant was held at the newly-opened ice skating rink on the plaza. [70 feet (22 meters) tall, from Morristown, NJ. Image: NYPL
Two trees were erected at Rockefeller Center and a skating pageant was held at the newly-opened ice skating rink on the plaza. [70 feet (22 meters) tall, from Morristown, New Jersey]
(1942)
World War II ushered in an era of simple and patriotic designs, including red, white and blue unlit globes and painted wooden stars. In 1942, no materials essential to the war effort were used to decorate the Center and instead of one large tree, three more modest trees were raised. From 1942 until the end of the war, the Tree went unlit each year due to black-out regulations. The middle tree was 50 feet (15 meters) tall, from Huntington, New York. The two additional trees stood at 30 feet tall. Image: nypl
World War II ushered in an era of simple and patriotic designs, including red, white and blue unlit globes and painted wooden stars. In 1942, no materials essential to the war effort were used to decorate the Center and instead of one large tree, three more modest trees were raised. From 1942 until the end of the war, the Tree went unlit each year due to black-out regulations. The middle tree was 50 feet (15 meters) tall, from Huntington, New York. The two additional trees stood at 30 feet tall.
(1951)
Santa & Friends watch as the 1951 tree is raised. [82 feet (25 meters) tall, from Lake Ronkonkoma, New York] image: nypl
Santa & Friends watch as the 1951 tree is raised. This tree was 82 feet (25 meters) tall, from Lake Ronkonkoma, New York.
(1955)
In the 1950s, workers began using scaffolding to air in decorating the trees. Before the decade was over, the process called for twenty men and a period of nine days. [85 feet (26 meters) tall, from Allamuchy, New Jersey]
In the 1950s, workers began using scaffolding to air in decorating the trees. Before the decade was over, the process called for twenty men and a period of nine days. This tree was 85 feet (26 meters) tall, from Allamuchy, New Jersey.
(1962)
The Christmas Tree has long received the white-glove treatment on its journey to the heart of Manhattan. The Tree is frequently dressed in giant red bows or banners extending holiday greetings to those who witness its pilgrimage. Trucks, barges, and even a plane have all helped the Tree make it to the big city. [60 feet (18 meters) tall, from Hurley, New York]. image: nypl
The Christmas Tree has long received the white-glove treatment on its journey to the heart of Manhattan. The Tree is frequently dressed in giant red bows or banners extending holiday greetings to those who witness its pilgrimage. Trucks, barges, and even a plane have all helped the Tree make it to the big city. This Christmas tree was 60 feet (18 meters) tall, from Hurley, New York.
(1969)
In 1969, Valerie Clarebout’s triumphant and towering wire angel figures debuted in the Channel Gardens. She created the twelve sculptures using seventy-five points of metal wire each. Valerie Clarebout passed away in 1982 at the age of seventy-four, but her legacy lives on in her resplendent gift to New York City. image: nypl
In 1969, American artist of British birth Valerie Clarebout’s triumphant and towering wire angel figures debuted in the Channel Gardens. She created the twelve sculptures using seventy-five points of metal wire each. Valerie Clarebout passed away in 1982 at the age of seventy-four, but her legacy lives on in her resplendent gift to New York City.
The artist was an avid traveler, and took artistic inspiration from her travels across Mexico, South America, Central America and Africa. Her tapestries and mosaics were influenced by local art.
Clarebout lived in Buenos Aires before World War II and returned to England to serve as a volunteer in the British air defense. She moved to the USA after the war, where she worked on several wire sculptures for Constitutional Plaza in Hartford, Saks Fifth Avenue and a New York World’s Fair exhibition.
In 1969, American artist of British birth Valerie Clarebout’s triumphant and towering wire angel figures debuted in the Channel Gardens. She created the twelve sculptures using seventy-five points of metal wire each. Valerie Clarebout passed away in 1982 at the age of seventy-four, but her legacy lives on in her resplendent gift to New York City. photo: lucas compan (in 2010)
(1999)
Christmas of 1999 boasts the largest tree in Rockefeller Center’s history. Hailing from Killingworth, Connecticut, the tree stood at 100 feet tall. [100 feet (31 meters) tall, from Killingworth, Connecticut. This was the tallest tree ever until 2015]. Image: google
Christmas of 1999 boasts the largest tree in Rockefeller Center’s history. Hailing from Killingworth, Connecticut, the tree stood at 100 feet tall. This one was 100 feet (31 meters) tall. This was the tallest tree ever until 2015.
(2001)
In December 2001, visitors from around the world came after September 11th to see the Tree decorated in a patriotic red, white, and blue. [81 feet (24.5 meters) tall, from Wayne, New Jersey]. image: google
In December 2001, visitors from around the world came after September 11th to see the Tree decorated in a patriotic red, white, and blue. That year, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree was 81 feet (24.5 meters) tall, from Wayne, New Jersey
Among her other works for Rockefeller Center were jacks-in-the-box, nine-foot tall snowmen and 12 elegant reindeer. Her dozen eight-foot-high wire sculpture angels trumpet in the Christmas season for hundreds and thousands of New Yorkers and visitors every year. Each sculpture is assembled with aluminum wire, paint, brass wire, and lights. At about eight feet high, they serenade those who pass them on the way to the enormous skating rink and Christmas tree at the Plaza itself.
They are an incredible testament to how art can create optical illusions for those who experience them, with the feeling of birch established through the paint, which makes the aluminum and brass wires seem like twigs twisted into shapes, ascending into the sky.
(2004)
In 2004, the 550-pound Swarovski star first adorned the top of the tree. It featured twenty-five thousand crystals and one million facets and was nine-and-a-half feed in diameter. The following year, the addition of L.E.D. lights made the star look as if it were radiating light from its core to its tips. Image: courtesy swaroviski
In 2004, the 550-pound Swarovski star first adorned the top of the tree. It featured twenty-five thousand crystals and one million facets and was nine-and-a-half feed in diameter. The following year, the addition of L.E.D. lights made the star look as if it were radiating light from its core to its tips.
(2015)
2015 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree arriving at the site. Imaeg: rockefeller center
2015 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree arriving at the site.
(2017)
Watch La Piccola Agostina and her charming Italian accent at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in 2017
The magical atmosphere of Christmas in New York City (2017)
Christmas 2017 at the Rockefeller Center. Photo Lucas Compan (2017)