Christmas comes to New York City Nov 28, 2018

Christmas comes to New York City

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree draws throngs of people to Midtown each year to celebrate the holidays. The tradition started in the 1930s, when construction workers at Rockefeller Center pooled their money to buy a tree. Officials at Rockefeller Center later formalized the event, especially today’s lighting ceremony, which will be attended by thousands of onlookers. Each year’s tree is selected by the head gardener at Rockefeller Center and topped with a huge star adorned with Swarovski crystals. This year, the tree introduces a new star designed by architect Daniel Libeskind—it weighs 900 pounds, is more than 9 feet in diameter, and features 70 spikes and three million crystals outfitted with LED lights to emit rays in all directions. In January, the tree is milled, and the lumber donated to Habitat for Humanity. We think Santa would approve.

© Thorney Lieberman/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Nov 28, 2019Wild turkeys in repose
Nov 28, 2021Celebrating Panama s independence
Nov 28, 2022Red Planet Day
Nov 28, 2023Giving Tuesday
Nov 28, 2024Happy Thanksgiving!
Nov 28, 2025Celebrating Native American Heritage Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

May 28, 2023Tegallalang terrace farms in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Nov 27, 2021Penn Station
Mar 20, 2018Celebrating the first day of spring
Apr 30, 2026Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse, Netherlands
Oct 11, 20181.1 billion opportunities for a better world
Aug 26, 2025Trullo buildings in Alberobello, Apulia, Italy
Jul 31, 2018Honoring the rangers on World Ranger Day
Jul 17, 2022The Wave at Coyote Buttes
Apr 7, 2018The confluence of the Arve and Rhône Rivers
Apr 20, 2018No, it s not a leaf. Happy Look-alike Day
Dec 14, 2023Christmas Bird Count
Jun 21, 2025World Giraffe Day
Nov 16, 2024Wadden Sea coast, Friesland, Netherlands
Sep 26, 2022Autumn in Alaska
Jan 12, 2026Eurasian otter and pup, Estonia
May 8, 2025World Donkey Day
May 4, 2018May the Fourth be with you…
Jan 25, 2020Happy New Year! (Again!)
Oct 14, 2020In praise of the old…the very old
Apr 23, 2024World Book Day
Sep 17, 2021Eye of the cave
May 31, 2021Here we honor the women who ve served
Jul 4, 2026The United States 250th anniversary
Jul 14, 2020Under Parisian skies
Jan 2, 2023Hohenzollern Castle near Stuttgart, Germany
Jun 6, 2021On this shore, history was made
May 23, 2020Bask in the glow—It s World Turtle Day
Apr 29, 2026Belém Tower, Lisbon, Portugal
May 30, 2018‘The memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever’
Aug 19, 2024National Aviation Day