The Love Story Behind The 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree: 7 Facts You Need To Know

The iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is more than just a massive holiday decoration; it is a beacon of hope, a symbol of New York City's festive spirit, and for 2024, it carries a deeply personal and touching love story. This year’s magnificent Norway Spruce, which was officially lit on December 4, 2024, has roots that stretch far beyond the concrete jungle, originating from a quiet backyard in Massachusetts and carrying a legacy of enduring love and community spirit. It has become a central piece of the global holiday season.

The selection process for the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is notoriously rigorous, but the 2024 tree stood out not only for its impressive stature and perfect shape but also for the heartfelt narrative shared by the family who donated it. From its precise dimensions to its final, charitable destiny, here is a deep dive into everything you need to know about the 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, a true centerpiece of the New York City holiday season.

The 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree: A Complete Profile and Heartfelt Origin Story

The 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is unique, marking the first time in over six decades that the tree has been sourced from the Berkshires region of Massachusetts. Its journey from a private residence to the global stage in Midtown Manhattan is a testament to the enduring tradition of the holiday season.

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• Type of Tree: Norway Spruce (Picea abies)
• Height: 74 feet tall
• Age: Approximately 60 years old
• Weight: Estimated to be around 12 tons (though exact weight is not always released, this is typical for a tree of this height)
• Origin Location: West Stockbridge, Massachusetts (Berkshires)
• Donors: Earl and Leslie Albert
• Planting Date: Planted in 1967 by newlyweds Earl and Leslie Albert
• Lighting Ceremony Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2024
• Star: The iconic Swarovski Star, weighing 900 pounds and featuring 3 million crystals
• Lights: Wrapped with over 50,000 multi-colored LED lights
• Viewing Hours: Lit daily from 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight) through mid-January 2025
• Post-Holiday Destiny: The lumber will be milled and donated to Habitat for Humanity for use in building affordable homes in Pittsfield and Housatonic, Massachusetts

The selection of the Norway Spruce from West Stockbridge is particularly noteworthy because it is the first tree chosen from the Berkshires since 1959, adding a layer of regional pride to the national spectacle.

The Touching Love Story Behind the 74-Foot Norway Spruce

What sets the 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree apart is the deeply personal story of the couple who planted and nurtured it for decades. The tree was donated by Earl Albert in a moving tribute to his late wife, Leslie Albert.

A 1967 Planting and a Lifetime of Memories

Earl and Leslie Albert planted the Norway Spruce in their yard in 1967, shortly after they were married. For over half a century, the tree was a silent witness to their life together, growing alongside their family and their memories. Leslie, who passed away in 2021, often spoke about the tree, and its donation was a way for Earl to honor her memory and their enduring love.

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The Albert family’s decision to donate the tree—a process that is often initiated by the family themselves—turned the annual New York City tradition into a poignant, nationwide celebration of a private love story. The tree stood as a powerful symbol of the foundation and growth of their life together, now shared with millions of visitors to Rockefeller Plaza.

This emotional connection elevates the tree from a simple holiday display to a monument of personal history. It provides a human-interest angle that resonates with the core spirit of the holiday season: family, connection, and remembrance.

The 2024 Lighting Ceremony and What Makes the Decorations Unique

The official 2024 Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony took place on December 4, 2024, drawing massive crowds to Midtown Manhattan and millions more watching the live television broadcast. This event is the official kickoff to the holiday season in New York City, a tradition dating back to 1933.

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The Dazzling Swarovski Star and LED Lights

The decoration of the 2024 Norway Spruce is a spectacle of modern engineering and traditional artistry. The tree is completely wrapped in a staggering 50,000+ multi-colored, energy-efficient LED lights, strung across approximately five miles of wire. The use of LED technology is a nod to sustainability, a critical factor in maintaining the tree's tradition in the modern era.

Crowning the 74-foot tree is the renowned Swarovski Star. Designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, this star is a masterpiece of light and geometry. It weighs 900 pounds and is covered in three million crystals, creating a brilliant, diamond-like sparkle visible from blocks away. The star itself is an entity of its own, a major focal point in the Rockefeller Plaza display.

The combined effect of the lights and the star transforms the area between West 48th and 51st Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues into a world-famous holiday destination, attracting tourists and New Yorkers alike for the festive cheer.

The Tree's Legacy: From Rockefeller Plaza to Habitat for Humanity

The life of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree does not end when the holiday season concludes. In a meaningful tradition that began in 2007, the tree is repurposed for a charitable cause, extending its impact far beyond its decorative role.

A Second Life as Affordable Housing

Once the tree is taken down in mid-January 2025, the lumber will be carefully milled and donated to Habitat for Humanity. For the 2024 tree, the wood will be used in the construction of affordable homes in the Berkshires region—specifically, in Pittsfield and Housatonic, Massachusetts.

This commitment to sustainability and community service ensures that the tree’s legacy is one of lasting contribution. The wood from the magnificent Norway Spruce, which once stood as a symbol of hope in New York City, will become part of the very foundation of new homes, providing shelter and stability for families in need. This completes a remarkable full circle, connecting the tree's origin in Massachusetts, its moment of global fame in New York, and its final, charitable return to its home state.

The entire process, from the meticulous selection by the head gardener to the final milling of the timber, highlights the complex logistics and deep commitment behind this cherished annual tradition. It is a powerful example of how a simple Christmas tree can embody topical authority on tradition, community, and charitable giving.