It’s the most wonderful time of the year — and this season, the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree carries a story of love, loss, and legacy.

This year’s towering Norway spruce hails from East Greenbush, New York, and comes with deep roots in one family’s history. Donated by Judy Russ, the tree stands as a tribute to her late husband, Dan, who passed away in 2020 at just 32 years old. “As my husband has passed away, I know he would have loved to have been here for this moment,” Russ told NBC’s Today show. “We always talked about it being the Rockefeller Center tree. It’s so special that my family’s tree gets to be America’s, if not the world’s, Christmas tree.”

Dan’s family planted the sprawling spruce roughly 75 years ago on their farmland in Rensselaer County. It grew alongside generations of family memories, eventually serving as a backdrop for holidays, photos, and even playtime for the couple’s son, Liam. “He used it as his own personal jungle gym,” Judy said, smiling. Her husband used to joke that it would take a crane to decorate the massive tree for Christmas — a dream that, remarkably, has now come true.

Judy said the idea of donating the tree began to take shape after she and Liam visited last year’s Rockefeller tree, a 74-foot spruce from Massachusetts. Inspired by the magic of seeing it in person, she decided to make their family’s longtime dream a reality. In July, she officially submitted their East Greenbush tree for consideration and even leveraged family connections to get a photo directly to the head gardener at Rockefeller Center, Erik Pauze. The tree was cut down on Thursday and will stand tall in Manhattan starting this weekend, just in time for the annual lighting ceremony on December 3.

For Judy, the entire experience has been both joyful and emotional. “Well, I cry at home in my living room when the tree is lit, so I’m probably going to be inconsolable that day, but it’s going to be great,” she said. As tens of thousands gather to see the famous tree illuminated with 50,000 sparkling lights, Judy says she’ll be thinking of her husband and the love they shared. “Spread joy, spread cheer, love one another,” she added. “Think of our family, think of my husband, think of us. We’re just happy to share it with everybody.”

This year’s Rockefeller Center tree may be dazzling in size and beauty, but it’s the story behind it — a husband’s dream fulfilled, a wife’s devotion, and a family’s enduring love — that makes it shine the brightest.