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The Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center in midtown Manhattan may get a lot of media attention, but hop a 2/3 subway downtown to Wall Street and in 15 minutes you’ll be in for a real holiday treat.
The NYSE has a Christmas tree of its own. This year’s is a massive 70’ high Norway Spruce, a stunning sight in front of the NYSE’s six-column stone façade. The tree itself is from Wallkill, NY, almost two hours north of NYC.
In fact, the NYSE Christmas tree has been a Downtown New York tradition since 1923, and is one of New York City’s oldest, according to NYSE. Initially the Exchange celebrated the holiday on its Trading Floor but starting in 1923 has erected a Christmas tree on Broad Street in front of its façade to celebrate with the NYC community at large with a public tree lighting.
The date of NYSE’s first tree lighting coincides with the start of the national tree lighting in Washington and the completion of a fully developed electrical grid in Manhattan. On December 24, 1923, President Calvin Coolidge presided over the first national tree lighting which was organized to promote the use of electricity and electric Christmas lights as a safe alternative to candles on trees. It was a joint venture between the US Government and the electric industry, particularly GE.
The NYSE Christmas tree is steeped in tradition and a must-see for any visitor to the Financial District. Next year’s 100-year mark will be worth watching, but for now let’s raise a glass of holiday cheer to 99 years.
