Rockefeller Tree Lit, Powered By Gratitude

Katrina Survivors Who Received Wood For New Home From Last Year's Tree Attend Ceremony

(AP)  A family of Hurricane Katrina survivors whose new house was partly built with lumber from last year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree were among thousands who attended this year's lighting ceremony Wednesday.

The eight-ton, 72-foot Norway spruce was illuminated Wednesday night in the Manhattan plaza after performances by entertainers including Tony Bennett, Harry Connick Jr., Jamie Foxx and Beyonce.

"It's been an awesome experience," said Tracey Davison, 40, a teacher's assistant from Pascagoula, Miss. "I have a famous living room because of the tree from last year, and my girls and I have had a spectacular trip to New York for the first time."

This year's tree was decorated with 30,000 energy-efficient LED lights on five miles of wire, topped with a massive crystal star. It was donated by the Varanyak family in Hamilton Township, N.J.

Among the thousands of onlookers who gathered to watch the annual tradition were Davison and her four daughters: Ashunti, 10; Nylah, 9; Majsa, 8; and Karly, 4.

Left, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is lit in New York, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008.

The family, who fled Katrina with just a few suitcases, recently moved into a new three-bedroom house built by Habitat for Humanity. Parts of the walls and floors in their living room were made with lumber from last year's tree.

"It's kinda like Christmas before Christmas," said Davison. "It was a dream come true. We're very, very excited to be in the house."

Others who lined the streets to watch the celebrity performers and the ceremony were Anita McLean, 71, her son and her two grandchildren, ages 14 and 11.

"It's my fourth year, and I'm not cold," she said, adding that she stood for more than three hours to secure a viewing spot for the lights. "Just being together, the excitement of the day, it's keeping with the spirit of Christmas."

In past years, the Rockefeller Center tree has been recycled after the holiday season, being made into toys for animals at the Bronx Zoo and mulched for hiking trails.

The tree lighting ceremony started in 1933, but workers building the Art Deco complex began putting up Christmas trees in 1931 during the Great Depression.

[caldwellptr]

Happy Story, Lousy Comments

[clovernyc]

The ritual of decorating trees and eggs at so-called easter time is actually pagan.

There is nothing Christian about this nonsense.

Your objection is to the word ''Christ'' in Christmas, and you have that right.

Although legally religion can be separated from the affairs of state, no one can separate religion from society.

It is a lost cause, so give it up already. Let people who want to dance around a tree and call it a ''Christmas tree'' have their moment.

It is the spirit of the season that is paramount, not some pitiful, whiny objection to the usage of a Name.

[kherrity]

Can''t we just enjoy the story about a family that is benefiting from the love of a community without all the political ***?!

[missglo]

I think that the Christmas tree is a Good thing. It helps some people get their minds on something else. Instead of the problems of this world. People are upset over a tree. Instead of helping human beings.I think that the Tree is a symbol of Hope. Its not that people Worship the tree.

[bullwinkle66]

They kill people to celebrate religion on a daily basis. That''s what terrorism and the death penalty is about. That tree didn''t feel a thing, and many a child will have a life long positive memory of it.

[dbstevens]

I agree with Centerfall94. This is one of the characteristics of human beings that I''ve learned to be very ashamed of. We plunder and rape all the living things of this world, both flora and fauna, and cover up the horrors with sentimental weirdness like this. It would be just as visually powerful to create an artificial tree. Select an artist each year to create something beautiful out of recycled materials or something. But why destroy a majestic living thing?

Human beings are such an unconscious race. I no longer believe we''re the most advanced life form on this planet. We''re too destructive, ignorant and narcissistic. We plunder the planet without any regard or respect for it.

Shame.

[centerfall94]

Destruction of an 80 year old tree to celebrate religion. Pathetic and sad.

The only way this could be done responsibly is if 80 new trees were planted - one for each year of life this grand old tree had lived.