New York's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Is Back for 2024

New York City's most famous holiday tradition is under way. The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree arrived at Rockefeller Plaza on 7 November, signalling the start of one of the most watched festive celebrations in the world.

This year's tree is a Norway spruce standing 76 feet tall, roughly 23 metres, and estimated to be around 75 years old. It was brought in from West Edmeston, a small town in upstate New York, continuing the long custom of sourcing the tree from within the state.

Once decorators get to work, the tree will be fitted with more than 50,000 multicoloured LED lights and topped with a signature Swarovski crystal star, a spectacular centrepiece that has become as recognised as the tree itself.

The official lighting ceremony is scheduled for 2 December, running from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown Manhattan. Until then, crews will spend weeks carefully stringing the lights and preparing the surrounding plaza for the millions of visitors expected to pass through during the holiday season.

The tradition dates back to 1931, when construction workers building the Rockefeller Center complex put up a small decorated tree on the site. What started as an informal gesture among workers has grown into one of the most televised and visited Christmas events in the United States, drawing tourists from around the world each year, including many Mauritians who travel to New York during the festive period.

After the holiday season ends, the tree is not simply discarded. The wood is typically repurposed and donated, giving the decades-old spruce a second life after its time in the spotlight.

For Mauritians planning a trip to New York this December, the lighting ceremony on 2 December and the weeks that follow offer one of the most atmospheric experiences the city has to offer during winter. Rockefeller Plaza sits in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, close to Fifth Avenue shopping and the city's main cultural landmarks.

Source: ION News