Photo Coverage: 2009 Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting!

This year, NBC Universal through its "Green is Universal initiative," worked with the Arbor Day Foundation to "Text For Your Tree." Every half hour throughout the national broadcast viewers were prompted to text NBCU to have a tree planted on their behalf. The trees will be planted by the Arbor Day Foundation, and underwritten by their partners. Additionally, the "Text For Your Tree" promotion was be extended online with an interactive site on both arborday.org and greenisuniversal.com sites. This partnership is expected to drive awareness for the environment and the Arbor Day Foundation - and help to get up to 500,000 trees planted.

The tradition of the Rockefeller Christmas tree dates back to the Great Depression. First erected in 1933, the tree was decked with 700 lights and placed in front of the then eight-month-old RCA Building, now the GE Building. The Christmas tree gathering was enhanced in 1936 with the opening of the Rockefeller Plaza outdoor ice-skating pond. NBC-TV televised the first tree lighting in 1951 on "The Kate Smith Show" and as part of the nationwide "Howdy Doody" television show from 1953-55.

"Christmas in Rockefeller Center" was produced by Brad Lachman Productions with Lachman serving as executive producer. Bill Bracken is producer.

Photo Credit: Monica Simoes