Every December, the giant Christmas tree in front of Rockefeller Center in New York becomes the most eye-catching focus of the whole city. This spruce tree, which is over twenty meters tall, is adorned with more than 50,000 colorful lights and huge crystal stars. It sparkles in the cold winter night wind, as if conveying warmth and hope to every passer-by.

You may not believe it, but the tradition of this tree actually began during the Great Depression. In 1931, construction workers spontaneously erected a small Christmas tree on the construction site. At that time, no one could have imagined that this simple act would become a tradition in New York that has lasted for nearly a hundred years. Since then, this tree has been like an old friend of the city, witnessing the gloom of war and sharing the joy of peace.

When I stand under the tree and look up, I often wonder: Why do people gather here year after year? Perhaps it’s not just to admire this magnificent tree, but also to seek a connection – a connection with the past years, a connection with strangers, and a connection with the pure anticipation deep in one’s heart. In this increasingly hurried world, we need such a sense of ceremony, a place that can make us stop and quietly feel the beauty of life.

This year, there is a card hanging on the tree, on which a child’s wish is written: “I hope everyone can find their own light.” Yes, isn’t this tree exactly such an existence? It reminds us with its own light that even in the coldest and darkest winter, warmth and hope have never been far away.