The history of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center has stood as a symbol of hope and self-reflection for more than 80 years. After the first installation in 1931, the Rockefeller Tree delighted children and adults alike, with thousands now flocking to Rockefeller Plaza to watch the lighting ceremony and another million tuning in to the live broadcast on NBC every year.

Now in its 85th year, the Rockefeller Center Tree lighting ceremony — and accompanying live performances — takes place Wednesday, Nov. 29, with "Christmas in Rockefeller Center," airing on the peacock network. The glittering shrub will remain in the plaza up until Jan. 7.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree holds a lot of New York's heart and history in its roots. During the Great Depression, John D. Rockefeller and his family employed more than 40,000 people for the Rockefeller Plaza project. Many New Yorkers would recognize the iconic photo that portrays workers waiting for their pay in front of the Christmas tree; these were the same laborers who pooled their spare money on Christmas Eve to buy the 20-foot fir. The families of the workers decorated the tree, crafting strings of cranberries, paper garlands and tin cans to hang from its branches.

The tree was a beacon of hope during World War II. As soon as the war was over, however, organizers overcompensated: six ultraviolet projectors made the tree's 700 fluorescent globes glow in the dark, much to the audience's amazement. In 1951, NBC televised the tree lighting for the first time, but the first live broadcast didn't come until 1997.

When it comes to the Rockefeller Tree,

bigger is better. The first one was a modest 20 feet, but by the late '50s the tree was too tall to decorate. To compensate, the organizers hired 20 men and built scaffolding to reach the top. It still took nine days to decorate it.

Last year's tree stood 94 feet tall and was the heaviest on record, weighing in at a whopping 30,000 pounds. That's the second-tallest tree ever, according to the Rockefeller website, the biggest being the one from 1999: a towering, 100-foot tall fir from Killingworth, Connecticut.

Rockefeller Plaza usually selects a donated Norway Spruce that's in the later years of its life cycle. It must be at least 75 feet tall and 45 feet in diameter, according to Rockefeller's website. After the holidays, the tree is milled into lumber and the materials donated to Habitat for Humanity to build houses for those in need.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has always adapted to the culture and environment of the year. For example, World War II brought an era of minimalism to the tree, because many materials went to the war effort, and from 1942 until peacetime, organizers couldn't light it because of blackout restrictions. They didn't want to waste the lumber, either, so they chose three smaller trees that they could plant again after the holidays.

Often, the tree is decorated in a patriotic red, white and blue to remind citizens of America's tenacity and adaptability. In 2001, organizers chose this color theme to honor the fallen victims and heroes of the Sept. 11 attacks.

As the Rockefeller Tree reached the new millennium, its decor became notably less spartan. According to NY Daily, a 550-pound Swarovski star has topped the tree since 2004. Technology has also come a long way since the first ceremony, which buzzed with 700 electric bulbs. The organizers replaced the traditional lights with LEDs in 2007 and installed solar panels on the roof of the Rock to power the tree's lights.

Many New Yorkers agree that it just isn't Christmas until Rockefeller Center fires up its famous tree. Both children and adults enjoy this time-honored tradition, with millions set to watch the live broadcast. The annual tree lighting ceremony is a beloved tradition that you won't want to miss this holiday season. "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" airs Wednesday, Nov. 29, on NBC.