Rockefeller Christmas tree underwhelms expectations

Photo courtesy of © Jorge Royan, Wikipedia

2020 will go down in history as the year when everything that could have gone wrong, did in fact go wrong. However, many people are hopeful and optimistic about this upcoming holiday season. They are especially excited about the giant Rockefeller Christmas tree. On Nov. 14 of this year, though, the unveiling of the Rockefeller Christmas tree left people shocked and disappointed. 

This Christmas tree was like no other, it was comparable to the sad and gloomy Christmas tree from, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” For Vulture Charu Sinha writes, “…behold, it’s 2020’s Rockefeller Christmas tree, and she is in pain. The 75-foot Norway Spruce was driven from Oneonta, NY onto Rockefeller Plaza and lifted into place by a crane on Saturday.” This statement sums up the Christmas tree perfectly.

Personally, I try to visit New York City every winter to see the Rockefeller Christmas tree, however, this year I will not be taking that trip due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though visiting the Rockefeller Christmas tree is a tradition, I can simply look in the woods and find a different spruce tree that is nowhere near as underwhelming. 

I think that this disappointing Christmas tree adds to the whole 2020 experience of everything going wrong, and it exemplifies most people’s mood about this year. A lot of people are saying this is a perfect ending to this complete mess of a year. Personally, I think that it would’ve been nice and possibly brought some spirits up to have a big, full and beautiful Christmas tree. The Rockefeller Christmas tree is normally seen as one of the largest displays of holiday spirit, but this year it looks lackluster, to say the least. 

Many people online have shared their thoughts on the Christmas tree, so much so that it has been recently trending on Twitter. However, with trending comes backlash about the Christmas tree and how it looked when it was unveiled, people have not been holding back their opinions at all. Twitter user, @ianbremmer says,  “Even the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is tired of 2020. #ThisTreeSucks” 

On Dec. 2 the Rockefeller Christmas tree will be lit up and decorated for the public eye to enjoy. According to Rockefeller Center, “There are more than 50,000 multi-colored LED lights on approximately 5 miles (8 km) of wire.” With luck, this impressive amount of lights will spruce up the Christmas tree and allow it to create the magic people want to see this year.

Hopefully, with all of the colorful lights and jolly decorations, it could look more cheerful for the upcoming holiday season. Something the world needs after the incredibly scary and upsetting year that we have had. With this could come some hope for the upcoming new year ahead. 

stricari@ramapo.edu