Every year there’s a tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center in New York City with mostly crazy tourists who don’t mind being frozen and trampled on in attendance, while us locals are safe and warm watching the whole thing on television. It’s a 2-hour “star-studded spectacular” with famous entertainers and lots of Christmas cheer.

Dave and I tune in to watch the 2-hour show every year, but our TV is kept on mute. That’s because there’s no way we’re sitting through acts like Rod Steward, Carrie Underwood, and Regis Philbin lip-syncing their hearts out. While the TV’s on mute, we put on our own Christmas music, like The Best Christmas Album in the World Ever, featuring Slade’s rendition of “Merry Xmas Everybody” (we play this song every Christmas Eve morning, too).

Once the Rockefeller Center tree is lit, Dave and I cheer, clap, and hug like tweebs, and then we top our tree with a Swarovski crystal stara tiny replica of the one at atop the Rockefeller Center tree which Dave gave to me last year for our anniversary. (There’s the star at right.)

There’s something about the Rockefeller Christmas Tree that fills me with happiness. The first time I went to view the tree was when I was 4 years old. My sweet cousin Pauline took me to her office that day where Santa was there giving out presents to all the workers’ children. We left her office early and went to a bookstore and she let me pick out a book of my choice. Afterwards, we had hot chocolate and went to see the tree at Rockefeller Center and watch all the people skating on the ice rink. It was a very exciting day for me, and each time I visit the tree, I feel the same way.

Dave and I will definitely go see the tree this year, as we do each year. The tradition was started three years ago on the day after we got married. After spending our post-wedding day sightseeing and taking in a rock-n-roll Christmas show that night, we went to Rockefeller Center to see the tree and take goofy pictures of ourselves in front of it (like the one at left, taken on 12/7/02). This year, a newly renovated observation deck 70 stories high atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza (Top of the Rock) is open to the public. There’s unobstructed 360-degree views of the city as well as two crystal masterpieces presented by Swarovski (love, love, love Swarovski!) that I’d love to see.

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