A 24m tall Norwegian spruce covered with more than 50,000 lights was lit at a ceremony in midtown Manhattan once again open to the public.
The most festive time of the year was inaugurated with great light on Wednesday, December 1, when the soaring Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center officially went on in the Big Apple.
The Norwegian spruce 24 meters high and 14 meters wide, covered with more than 50,000 lights in a rainbow of colors and with a 400 kg glass covered star, was lit at a ceremony in midtown Manhattan once again open to the public, in contrast to last year’s virus-stricken event.
The health crisis created by COVID-19 forced the cancellation of public events in 2020, but this year New Yorkers and visitors will be able to attend the iconic symbol of Christmas until January 16, 2022.
The lighting was televised by NBC. Musical performances included Norah Jones, Carrie Underwood, and Alessia Cara. The famous Rockettes, from the Radio City Christmas show, were also part of the show.
Starting on December 2, the tree will be illuminated every day from 06:00 to midnight. On Christmas Day, the tree is lit 24 hours a day and on New Year’s Eve, from 06:00 to 21:00.
The first Christmas tree was placed in Rockefeller Center by men who worked there in 1931. This year’s one came from Elkton, Maryland, where it remained for more than 80 years outside of a family home.
It will be donated to Habitat for Humanity at the end of the Christmas season to be turned into wood to build houses.
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