This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has a story rooted in love, family, and nostalgia. Planted in 1967 in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, the towering Norway spruce grew from a waist-high sapling to a 74-foot giant under the care of the Albert family. Earl and Leslie Albert, newlyweds at the time, had no idea their little tree would one day become a holiday icon.
In an interview with NBC, Earl Albert fondly recalled the early days of decorating the small tree until it became too tall to manage. “We first used to decorate it when it was small, and then it got so big that I couldn’t decorate it,” he shared.
The spruce first caught the eye of Erik Pauze, Rockefeller Center's head gardener, in 2020. Pauze was so taken with the tree that he knocked on the Alberts’ door, hoping they might consider donating it one day. His visit came at a poignant moment for the family; Leslie had passed away just days before. Michael Albert, Earl’s son, saw Pauze’s visit as almost “angelic” in its timing. Michael’s wife, Shawn, felt that Leslie’s spirit was very much part of that moment, saying, “This is definitely her handiwork.”
Donating the tree to Rockefeller Center feels like a great honor for the Alberts, and Earl believes his late wife would be “thrilled.” Michael adds that the donation represents a new beginning for the family, saying, “It’s a tribute to my mom. It’s a new beginning for the tree. It’s a new beginning for our family.”
The spruce is now on its way to New York City, where it will be decorated with over 50,000 LED lights and topped with a sparkling Swarovski star. In a heartwarming gesture, the McGinley family—last year’s tree donors—sent a card to the Alberts, sharing how special it felt to see their tree lit up at Rockefeller Center. They promised the Alberts an unforgettable experience: “You’ll get chills, and just the emotion—it’s overwhelming.”
This Christmas, as the Alberts’ tree lights up Rockefeller Center, it will stand as a tribute to family love and a cherished legacy.
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Photo: Getty