It's beautiful, bright, but eventually it will be gone. No, it's not another casualty of 2016 (too soon?). It's the giant Rockefeller Christmas tree. 

But what does happen to that big, beautiful tree after the holiday season?  

Oh, you know. The usual: DEATH. DESTRUCTION. MAYHEM. TORTURE. 

Kidding. 

According to Curbed NY, last year's tree was transformed into beams and used to build Habitat for Humanity homes in upstate New York. 

Now that's what we call a good cause.

This is not the first time that the tree has gone to another good use: last year the tree also was donated to Habitat for Humanity to help in the creation of new homes. 

Tishman Speyer, owner and operator of Rockefeller Center, has been partnering with Habitat for Hummanity for nearly 10 years to mill the famous trees into lumber where they can be used for nonprofit's nearby projects.

[anad]

The process goes a little something like this:  the tree arrives in New York City in mid-November, the tree stands its ground through early January, and then it's cut into smaller pieces and moved to New Jersey where it's sawed, dried, and milled into beams.  

If you haven't see the tree yet, you have until January 7th to get over there!

[via Curbed NY] [Feature Image Courtesy New Jersey 101.5]