THEN AND NOW: How the holidays in New York City have changed over the last 100 years

The first Christmas tree on the Rockefeller Center grounds was put into place in 1931, but the official Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree tradition started in 1933. Pictured here is the famous tree in 1934.

Pictured here is the tree arriving in its spot in 1946.

The tree was only silver for the year 1949, according to the New York City's Official Convention & Visitor's Bureau.

In November, the tree is put in its place. Crowds swarm the area and line up to skate at the nearby ice rink and enjoy the festive decorations.

This year, the tree and its 50,000-plus lights will be lit on December 2. The tree is a Norway spruce from Oneonta, New York, clocking in at over 75 feet tall and about 11 tons.

It's suggested people stay home and watch the live broadcast of the lighting, which is airing from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on NBC. From 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. there will also be an hour of live music from artists including the Goo Goo Dolls and Kelly Clarkson, according to Today.

Here, a woman and her daughter carry bundles of gifts after shopping at Macy's on Christmas Eve in 1946.

Here, Christmas shoppers flood 42nd Street in New York City in 1929.

The holiday season music and store sales seem to start earlier and earlier each year.

Yet this year, some stores are trying to curb the crowds by only allowing a certain number of shoppers inside and encouraging them to shop online, instead.

This year the European-inspired holiday market at the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park looks a bit different. There are fewer shops than normal and those that are open are spread out more to encourage social distancing.

The Union Square Holiday Market will not open this year.

Waiting in line at the post office was once the only way to send notes and presents. Here, people wait at a post office in New York City in the early 1900s.

This year online holiday sales are expected to reach $189 billion, a 33% increase from last year, according to TechCrunch.

The Lake in Central Park was one of the earliest homes to ice-skating in New York City. It opened in the 1870s and quickly became a top attraction, according to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

When ice skaters first used Central Park, the Lake and the Pond would be drained to a level that would easily freeze for skating. But the park's ice-skating location moved to what is now known as Wollman Rink in 1950. Lasker Rink opened in 1966.

This year, fewer people will be allowed on the ice.

Legend has it that the Macy's New York City flagship store was the first to feature a Santa Claus during the holiday season. But this New England Living Today story excerpted from a 1990 issue of Yankee Magazine, argues that James Edgar, who owned a dry goods store in Brockton Massachusetts, had Macy's beat by a few years.

Macy's Santaland has become an iconic attraction since it opened in 1980 at the Herald Square store — in a normal year, it draws more than 200,000 guests each year.

Families can instead chat with Santa via a virtual experience.

Pictured is the 2012 lighting of what's dubbed the world's largest menorah. That year, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg illuminated the 32-foot-high menorah at the front of Grand Army Plaza in Central Park.

Annual lightings of the massive menorahs take place in Brooklyn and Manhattan each Hanukkah. This year, there are still lightings happening across the city.

Here, shoppers gathered outside Saks Fifth Avenue in 1960 to admire the decorative displays.

Here, snowflakes glow at Saks Fifth Avenue's flagship store in 2009.

The holiday window decoration tradition is one that has withstood the test of time for many iconic department stores.

The Rockettes were founded in 1925 but didn't officially become the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes until 1934, according to the dance group's website.

Here, the Rockettes performed the eye-catching "Toy Soldier" number in 1988.

The Rockettes' "Christmas Spectacular" show is a 90-minute production that has been captivating audiences since 1933.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year's "Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes" has been canceled, according to The New York Times.

Choreographed to music by famous composer Tchaikovsky, the New York City Ballet's "The Nutcracker" at Lincoln Center is a quintessential holiday tradition.

Here, ballet dancers in the show perform in 1954.

Like the Rockettes, The New York Ballet announced it is canceling holiday performances of "The Nutcracker" due to the coronavirus pandemic. The company hopes performances can resume in January.

It's said that people celebrated the new year in Times Square since 1904.

In 1907, the New Year's Eve ball made its first descent from the flagpole atop One Times Square, and it's been lowered each year since then, except for 1942 and 1943, when the New Year's Eve ceremony was halted during World War II.

The current ball is made of Waterford crystal triangles and has 32,256 LEDs.

Since 1972, "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" has been televised from Times Square, furthering the location as a symbol of the holiday spirit and new year.

Although it's one of the highlights of the year, could you imagine standing shoulder to shoulder with thousands of strangers?

Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance, told New York Daily News that although there won't be any people, Times Square will still be rocking so people can celebrate at home.

"This year there will be significantly new and enhanced virtual, visual and digital offerings to complement whatever limited live entertainment or experiences — still in development — will take place in Times Square," Tompkins said.

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