Workers raised the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City on Saturday, November 8, 2025. AP
New York City officially welcomed the start of its holiday season on Saturday as the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was raised into place in Manhattan. Crowds filled the plaza to watch the tradition that has marked the city’s festive spirit for more than 90 years.
This year’s tree stands an impressive 75 feet tall and weighs about 11 tons. The Norway spruce came from East Greenbush, a small town near Albany, and travelled roughly 240 kilometres to its new home at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
A Journey to the Heart of the City
The tree made its way to Manhattan on a flatbed truck, catching the attention of people who stopped to take photos along the route. Once it arrived, cranes lifted it high above the crowds as workers carefully set it in place, overlooking the famous Rockefeller Center skating rink.
Spectators sipped hot coffee and filmed the moment as crews secured the spruce and began preparing it for decoration. “It’s something we come to see every year,” said one onlooker. “It always feels like the holidays have truly begun.”
Decorating a Giant
In the coming weeks, workers will decorate the tree with more than 50,000 colourful LED lights. The display will be topped with a dazzling Swarovski crystal star, weighing about 408 kilograms.
The official lighting ceremony will take place on December 3, during a live television event hosted by country singer Reba McEntire. The tree will stay on display through mid-January, before being taken down and recycled into lumber. The wood will be donated to Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit that builds affordable homes.
A Family’s Gift to the City
The majestic spruce came from the yard of Judy Russ and her family, who decided to donate it to Rockefeller Center. Russ said her husband’s great-grandparents planted the tree nearly a century ago, in the 1920s.
“For this to now become the center of New York City Christmas is incredible,” Russ said. “We’re so proud it’s part of such a beautiful tradition.”
The Rockefeller Center team carefully selected the spruce for its perfect shape, strong branches, and height—qualities that make it ideal for the world’s most famous holiday tree.
A Tradition Born in Hard Times
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has deep roots in American history. The first tree appeared in 1931, during the Great Depression, when construction workers placed a modest 20-foot balsam fir at the site. The workers’ families decorated it with simple, handmade garlands.
Two years later, in 1933, the first official lighting ceremony took place, marking the beginning of a cherished annual celebration that now draws millions of visitors from around the world.
