Here's What the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Looked Like the Year You Were Born

Rockefeller Center has been celebrating the holidays since 1933 — when workers set up a little tree in the middle of the muddy construction site while Rock Center was being built. In 1934, the second tree to grace the Plaza had speakers inside of it to make it seem like it was singing.

After four years of keeping the trees dark because of blackout regulations during World War II, the tree was glowing once again in 1945. During the "dark years," Rock Center had three trees decorated with painted wooden stars and unlit red, white and blue globes.

The tree is usually at least 60 feet tall, but it can't be wider than 110 feet because of limitations set by the width of New York City streets. If you have a tree that fits the bill, you can submit it for consideration through the Rockefeller Center website — otherwise, scouts are always on the lookout.

Once wartime regulations were no longer in effect, decorators got more creative with the display, using ultraviolet light projectors to make it seem like the tree's globes glowed in the dark.

The 1949 tree was 75 feet tall, spray-painted silver and covered in 7,500 pastel-colored lights. The walkway leading to the tree was decorated with 576 illuminated plastic snowflakes that created a hypnotic effect.

Starting in the 1950s, scaffolding was used to make it easier to hang the decorations. It took around 20 workers nine days to create the dazzling display.

This was the first year the tree lighting was televised. It was shown on NBC's The Kate Smith Hour.

According to Erik Pauze, the head gardener of Rockefeller Center, the tree guzzles about 90 gallons of water when it's first set up.

In 1954, the glowing, horn-blowing angels debuted in the Rockefeller Center Channel Gardens. Created by artist Valerie Clarebout, they have since become staples of the center's holiday display.

This 65-foot tree hailed from Belvedere, New Jersey — and when its time at Rock Center was through, it was turned to mulch. For years, the mulch was donated to the Boy Scouts of America and the trunk was sent to the U.S. Equestrian Team Olympic Training Center to be used as obstacles for the horses. In 2007, the donations started going to Habitat for Humanity.

Rockefeller Center's restaurants offer special ticketed dining events during the holiday season, at which children can get their photo taken with Santa Claus.

The tree is usually lit from 5am until midnight during the holiday season, but it remains turned on for the full 24 hours on Christmas Day.

A reporter in Philadelphia tried to get then-Governor David L. Lawrence to stop a family from Harford, Pennsylvania, from donating their tree, presumably to preserve nature — but those efforts failed.

An 85-foot Norway spruce from Smithtown, New York, was featured in the 1961 display, thanks to a donation from Mr. and Mrs. M.A. Gilmartin Jr.

The 67-foot white spruce used in 1962 was a gift from the Scott Paper Company.

The 60-foot Norway spruce from 1965 was adorned with 1,200 Christmas bells and 4,000 lights.

1966 was a special year, because it was the first time the tree was brought in from outside of the United States. It was donated from Ottawa, Canada, by the Petawawa Forest Preserve in honor of Canada's centennial celebration.

The 1967 display included statues with candelabras on their heads. Although the tree is the main attraction, the display at the nearby promenade has gotten more elaborate over the years.

In a year marked by the introduction of McDonald's Big Mac and Elvis's comeback, visitors turned out in droves for the time-honored tradition of viewing the Rockefeller Christmas Tree.

Woodstock may have been over, but the 1969 tree kept that peace and love vibe going.