By Jenny L. Rivera, Staff Writer
Every year New Yorkers and visitors from around the world make a stop at the iconic 74-foot Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. It began to eliminate the city with lights after the annual tree lighting ceremony Dec. 4.
According to The Center Magazine, the trees have come from many different cities and states and were hand-chosen by the Head Gardener at Rockefeller Center Erik Pauze. Pauze has had the opportunity to find a new tree each year for the past three decades. He scouts hundreds of trees across a radius of 6 states before choosing one special tree.
In 2020, Pauze was around the area of Stockbridge scouting a potential candidate when he came across a magnificent Norway spruce tree in someone’s yard. The tree had been planted a year after the wedding of Earl and Leslie Albert, in 1967. 60 years later it would be donated to the city of New York.
Senior digital arts major Whitney James describes how he would have felt if he had to donate his own family tree.
“After hearing about how long the tree had been in the family, it would have been so hard for me to donate it,” he said.
In choosing, Pauze must ensure that the tree is sturdy and strong enough to carry the weight of over 50,000 lights, including a star. That is one of the reasons why the Norway spruce was chosen. It is able to withstand very strong winds and grow straight up into the air, unlike other trees.
After receiving the donation, it is the job of Pauze to ensure that he monitors the tree, nurtures it, and then transports it. It took over a day to transport the tree 140 miles to its destination.
Junior art major Corey Langston remembers how it felt to see the tree as a child.
“My parents would take me all the time to see the tree. I remember it being so cold, but I loved all the lights,” said Langston.
James did not enjoy the tree as much as Langston due to the amount of people that were there.
“Yeah, I’ve actually gone on a day when the tree was being lit. It was fun but I would rather go on other days instead because of the crowds,” James said.
The special tree is memorable for everyone, especially the owners. Leslie Albert had passed just days after the tree was donated. On Dec. 4, 2024, Earl shed tears as the tree was lit, remembering his wife.
Langston thinks that the experience of seeing the tree cannot be missed.
“It really is a cool moment with everyone coming here to see the tree. People come from all over the world just for that and people who live here have never even seen it in person. Everyone should experience it at least once,” Langston said.
The first Rockefeller tree, standing about 20 feet tall, was put up in 1931 during the construction of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, now known as 30 Rock. This was made possible by the workers of Rockefeller Center who used their own money. They decided that it would be a great opportunity for people to enjoy the holidays.
Due to the gesture from the workers of 30 Rock, millions of people each year enjoy special moments with their family and friends. Moments that will never be forgotten.
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