Christmas Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center

Workers at Rockefeller Center pooled their money together to buy a Christmas tree. The men decorated the 20-foot high balsam fir with handmade garlands made by their families. This photo, taken on Christmas Eve, shows the men lined up to receive their wages.

Rockefeller Center decided to make the Christmas Tree an annual tradition, and held the very first tree lighting ceremony. Two trees were erected at Rockefeller Center in December 1936, and a skating pageant was held at the newly opened ice skating rink on the Plaza.