❤️ “I Thought It Was a Joke!” — New York Mom Stunned When Rockefeller Center Asked for Her 75-Year-Old Christmas Tree, Now Set to Shine Before Millions

For years, Rebecca Decker looked out at the enormous evergreen towering over her quiet property in upstate New York. The tree was so big that she sometimes worried it might fall. She even considered having it removed. Then a stranger appeared with an unbelievable request: Would she donate her tree to Rockefeller Center? Rebecca thought someone was playing a prank. But the man was serious. And now, the 76-foot Norway spruce that once stood outside her family’s home is making its way to Manhattan, where it will become one of the most famous Christmas trees in the world.

WEST EDMESTON, NEW YORK — November 7, 2026 — A New York mother who initially believed she was being pranked when Rockefeller Center officials asked for her enormous backyard Christmas tree is preparing to see the beloved evergreen become the centerpiece of New York City’s most celebrated holiday tradition.

Rebecca Decker donated the towering Norway spruce that has been selected as the official 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

The magnificent evergreen stands 76 feet tall, measures approximately 50 feet across and weighs around 11 tons.

It is estimated to be 75 years old.

For decades, the tree grew quietly on a property in West Edmeston, a small rural community roughly 200 miles from Manhattan.

But on Thursday, November 5, workers cut down the massive spruce and carefully lifted it onto a specially prepared trailer.

Its destination was Rockefeller Plaza, where it was scheduled to arrive Saturday, November 7.

There, the tree will be decorated with more than 50,000 multicolored LED lights and crowned with Rockefeller Center’s famous Swarovski crystal star.

The official lighting ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2.

For Rebecca and her three children, the experience has turned an ordinary part of their family property into an extraordinary Christmas memory.

A Stranger Arrived With an Unbelievable Request

Rebecca’s remarkable story began when Rockefeller Center head gardener Erik Pauzé contacted her about the enormous spruce.

Pauzé has spent decades helping select the annual Christmas tree.

His work involves searching for large, healthy evergreens with the shape and proportions needed to stand at Rockefeller Plaza.

But when he approached Rebecca about her tree, she had difficulty believing his explanation.

During a November 6 interview with NBC’s TODAY, she recalled her initial reaction.

“I thought that he was absolutely joking,” she said.

Rebecca explained that she lived in a remote rural community, far from Manhattan’s famous landmarks.

She could hardly imagine why someone from Rockefeller Center would be interested in a tree growing on her property.

At first, she suspected the request was fake.

Yet Pauzé was entirely serious.

He had been watching the enormous spruce for years.

In fact, its journey toward becoming New York City’s most famous Christmas tree began long before Rebecca realized it.

The Tree Had Been on Rockefeller Center’s Radar for Six Years

According to Pauzé, he first noticed the Norway spruce in 2020.

Its size and natural symmetry caught his attention.

He immediately recognized its potential.

Rockefeller Center’s annual tree must satisfy practical requirements as well as visual expectations.

It needs to be tall enough to dominate the plaza while maintaining a full and balanced shape.

The tree must also withstand transportation, installation and weeks of outdoor display.

Pauzé believed Rebecca’s spruce had the qualities he wanted.

But selecting a tree is rarely a simple matter of deciding that it looks beautiful.

Workers must consider its condition, accessibility and suitability for a complicated journey into Manhattan.

For several years, the tree remained under consideration.

Then, in June 2026, an unexpected coincidence reinforced Pauzé’s interest.

Jackie and Matt McGinley, the couple who donated Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree in 2023, contacted him about another impressive evergreen they had noticed.

They sent him a photograph and its location.

When Pauzé examined the address, he recognized it immediately.

It was Rebecca’s tree.

The independent recommendation helped convince him that the enormous spruce deserved the honor.

She Had Considered Cutting It Down

One of the most surprising details is that Rebecca had previously considered removing the tree.

Its enormous size made her nervous.

At approximately 76 feet tall, the spruce towered over the property.

She worried that a severe storm might cause it to fall.

Having such a large tree near a home can raise practical concerns, especially when its branches and trunk have grown over several decades.

Rebecca had contemplated cutting it down before Rockefeller Center expressed interest.

The request therefore arrived at an unexpected moment.

Rather than simply having the tree removed, she could give it a completely different future.

The evergreen that had stood quietly in the countryside would become part of a holiday tradition watched by millions.

For Rebecca, the decision involved excitement and some sadness.

The tree had been an important part of the property’s appearance.

But she also understood that donating it would allow countless families to enjoy its beauty.

A Tree Planted More Than Seven Decades Ago

The enormous spruce has a history extending back approximately 75 years.

According to the New York Post, the tree was planted by the property’s original owner, Carl Camenga.

At the time, there was no reason to imagine that the young evergreen would eventually become a world-famous holiday attraction.

It simply grew.

Season after season, the small tree developed into a towering spruce.

It survived decades of upstate New York winters.

Its branches spread outward.

Its trunk became stronger.

And its height eventually made it a dominant feature of the surrounding landscape.

Rebecca moved onto the property with her three children approximately five years ago.

By then, the tree was already enormous.

It had been part of the land for far longer than the family had lived there.

Yet they grew attached to it.

Now, the spruce’s next chapter will unfold hundreds of miles away from the rural property where it spent most of its life.

The Emotional Goodbye on November 5

On Thursday, November 5, workers arrived in West Edmeston to begin the complicated removal process.

Moving an 11-ton tree requires careful planning.

Crews wrapped and secured the branches to reduce damage during transportation.

Specialized equipment was used to cut the trunk and lift the enormous evergreen.

A crane hoisted it onto a flatbed trailer.

The operation marked the end of the tree’s 75-year presence on the property.

For Rebecca, watching the spruce leave was emotional.

She had agreed to donate it and was excited about its destination.

But she also knew that her property would never look quite the same.

During her TODAY interview, she admitted feeling a little sad.

She wondered how the yard would appear without the towering evergreen.

After years of seeing the tree outside, its absence would take some getting used to.

The feeling was understandable.

The family was gaining an extraordinary experience, but they were also saying goodbye to a familiar part of their home.

A 200-Mile Journey to the Heart of Manhattan

After being prepared for transport, the spruce began its journey toward New York City.

The trip covers approximately 200 miles from West Edmeston to Midtown Manhattan.

Its enormous size requires specialized transportation.

Once it reaches Rockefeller Plaza, crews will position the tree near the famous skating rink.

The installation is a major operation involving cranes, support structures and experienced workers.

The tree must be carefully secured before decorating begins.

Rockefeller Center scheduled its arrival for Saturday, November 7.

The occasion also marks the return of Meet the Tree Day, a free public event welcoming the newly selected evergreen.

The celebration is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Visitors can enjoy family-friendly activities and get their first look at the tree before it receives its holiday decorations.

For New Yorkers, the arrival is one of the clearest signs that Christmas is approaching.

More Than 50,000 Lights and a Spectacular Crystal Star

The 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will receive an elaborate transformation.

Workers will decorate the spruce with more than 50,000 multicolored LED lights.

The lights will stretch across approximately five miles of wiring.

At the top will sit the iconic Swarovski star.

Designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, the star weighs approximately 900 pounds.

It features 70 illuminated spikes decorated with around three million crystals.

Together, the lights and star transform the natural evergreen into one of the world’s most recognizable holiday displays.

For Rebecca’s family, the experience will be especially personal.

The tree that once stood outside their home will illuminate a plaza visited by people from around the world.

They will be able to recognize its familiar shape beneath the decorations.

And they will know that the famous Christmas attraction began in their own backyard.

December 2: The Night the Tree Will Light Up New York

The official Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2, 2026.

The celebration will take place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time.

The event is part of a holiday tradition stretching back nearly a century.

Thousands of visitors are expected to gather around Rockefeller Plaza.

Many more will watch the televised celebration.

For Rebecca, the ceremony represents the moment her family’s extraordinary experience will reach its peak.

She and her three children plan to attend.

The family already loves Christmas.

According to Rebecca, they traditionally celebrate the holiday by wearing matching pajamas.

This year, however, their Christmas season will include something far beyond their usual family traditions.

They will watch a tree from their own property shine at one of the most famous locations in America.

Rebecca has expressed particular excitement about sharing that experience with her children.

A Christmas Tradition That Began During the Great Depression

Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree tradition began in 1931.

At the time, construction workers were building the enormous commercial complex in Midtown Manhattan.

The United States was struggling through the Great Depression.

Despite the difficult economic conditions, workers pooled their money to purchase a modest Christmas tree.

The first tree stood approximately 20 feet tall.

It was decorated with handmade garlands and simple ornaments.

The display was a small act of celebration during a challenging period.

Two years later, in 1933, Rockefeller Center held its first formal tree-lighting ceremony.

Over the following decades, the tradition grew into a major public event.

The trees became taller.

The decorations became more elaborate.

And the lighting ceremony attracted increasing numbers of visitors.

Today, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree represents one of New York City’s most enduring holiday traditions.

Rebecca’s spruce will become part of that history.

Even After Christmas, the Tree Will Help Families

The story will not end when the holiday lights are switched off.

Rockefeller Center has an established tradition of donating its Christmas trees to Habitat for Humanity after the holiday display concludes.

The 2026 tree will follow that practice.

Once it is removed from Rockefeller Plaza, the spruce will be milled into lumber.

The wood will then be donated for use in Habitat for Humanity’s housing work.

That means the tree will serve a purpose long after Christmas.

Instead of becoming waste, its wood can help support the construction of homes.

The tradition creates a meaningful connection between holiday celebration and practical assistance for families.

For Rebecca, the decision to donate her tree will therefore have two distinct chapters.

First, it will bring joy to people celebrating Christmas.

Then, its wood will contribute to housing efforts.

The spruce’s life will continue in another form.

A Family Christmas Memory Unlike Any Other

Rebecca’s three children have grown up enjoying Christmas as an important family tradition.

They celebrate together.

They wear matching pajamas.

And they look forward to the holiday season.

But 2026 will be different.

Their family tree will be the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

They will watch it being decorated.

They will see it illuminated in Manhattan.

And they will share the experience with people from across the country and around the world.

Years from now, the family may remember the morning workers came to remove the enormous spruce.

They may remember the empty space it left behind.

But they will also remember seeing that same tree towering over Rockefeller Plaza.

For Rebecca, those memories are part of what makes the donation worthwhile.

She has acknowledged that losing the familiar tree is bittersweet.

Yet the chance to share such a remarkable experience with her children has filled her with excitement.

From an Ordinary Backyard to an Extraordinary Christmas

Six years ago, Erik Pauzé recognized the potential of an enormous Norway spruce growing in rural New York.

Rebecca Decker had no idea that Rockefeller Center was interested in it.

She was simply living with her children on a property where the tree had stood for decades.

Then came an unexpected request.

At first, she thought someone was joking.

But the proposal was genuine.

On November 5, the tree was cut down.

On November 7, it was scheduled to arrive in Manhattan.

And on December 2, it will become the illuminated centerpiece of Rockefeller Center’s Christmas celebration.

A 75-year-old tree that once stood quietly in a rural backyard is about to become a holiday symbol admired by millions.

For New Yorkers, it will be another magnificent Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

For visitors, it will be a place to take photographs and create cherished holiday memories.

For Rebecca and her children, however, it will always be more personal.

They will remember the tree before the lights.

Before the crystal star.

Before the crowds.

They will remember the enormous evergreen that stood outside their home.

Rebecca once considered cutting it down because she worried it might fall. Instead, she gave it a final, extraordinary chapter — one filled with Christmas lights, family memories and the joy of sharing something beautiful with millions of people.

And when the holiday season ends, the tree will have one more gift to give.

Its wood will be used to help build homes, carrying the spirit of the season into another family’s future.