The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has been lit, marking what many consider the true start of the holiday season. The lighting of our giant tree draws thousands of people to Rockefeller Plaza. The tradition dates all the way back to 1933.
Snow fell gently in New York City as the massive tree was illuminated with 50,000 multicolored lights and a Swarovski crystal star on Dec. 4. This year’s tree, a Norway spruce that stands 74 feet tall and 43 feet wide, is from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It weighs approximately 11 tons and is about 70 years old.
The “Christmas at Rockefeller Center” two-hour live show aired on both NBC and Peacock on Dec. 4. (Peacock is owned by TODAY.com’s parent company, NBCUniversal.)
Security was on high alert at the iconic celebration, following a shocking fatal shooting the same morning just blocks away. While a manhunt for the shooter continued through the city, the tree lighting was a peaceful and joyful event, hosted by Kelly Clarkson along with TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker.
If you missed the snowy celebration, you can catch up with every special performance here.
First appeared on www.today.com