NEW YORK – The most famous Christmas tree in the world is almost here in New York City.
The giant 74-foot-tall Norway spruce, which will serve as Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree, is on its way to Manhattan after being cut down Thursday from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where it was donated by a family The tree is traveling 140 miles and will arrive at Rockefeller Center on Saturday.
The light show will take place on December 4 and will feature 50,000 multi-coloured lights and a garland of Swarovski stars on the tree.
But, how did they choose this tree and what is the story behind it. The answer has a special story.
The story behind the Rockefeller Center 2024 tree
Erik Pauze, head gardener at the Rockefeller Center responsible for finding the tree and helping to transport it, said he first saw this green giant in 2020.
“I saw a beautiful Norway spruce as I was driving down the road, and it was right in front of me,” he said, according to the Rockefeller Center newsletter. “I knocked on the door and met Earl Albert. I asked him if he would consider donating the tree to the Rockefeller Center. His immediate answer was yes.”
Shawn Albert, Earl Albert’s daughter-in-law, recalled that Pauze stopped two days after the death of Earl Albert’s wife, Lesley. He said that his father-in-law immediately agreed to give the tree, taking it as a sign from Lesley, who loved Christmas. The family decorated the tree every year with Christmas lights.
The family was unable to hold a funeral for Lesley Albert because of the pandemic, so Thursday’s event, which included carols that planted the tree, was a way to remember her, said the Alberts.
She was such an important part of the community. To me, this is like her reunion we can finally have and we can finally honor her
Shawn Albert said in a video of the event provided by the Rockefeller Center
“She was such an important part of the community,” Shawn Albert said in a video of the event provided by the Rockefeller Center. “For me, this is her reunion that we can finally have and we can finally honor her.”
Michael Albert, Shawn’s husband and Lesley Albert’s son, recalled that his mother was a nurse and a “generous person,” so it made sense to share the tree with the community.
“Let him go to New York City and let him see the world,” he said.
The tall spruce, Rockefeller Center’s first Christmas tree that came from Massachusetts since 1959, has attracted a lot of attention in West Stockbridge. Locals and tourists alike have come to see the 11-ton (10 metric tons) tree in recent days, as workers prepare for its trip to New York.
On Thursday, several dozen people, some dressed as Santa Claus, watched from behind a barrier as workers cut down the tree.
Michael and Tania Hardinger, tourists from Denmark, went to New York and drove north to see the tree last weekend, before it was cut down.
Hardinger said the trip was inspired by his love of Christmas, as the family has two and sometimes three Christmas trees at their home in Copenhagen. The two musicians will return to Denmark to play concerts before returning to New York to do some Christmas shopping and visit the tree again, this time at Rockefeller Center.
“We love Christmas and the Rockefeller tree is something we should see every year,” Hardinger said. “It’s so beautiful and amazing.”
2024-11-08 19:57:00
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