Metro

NY’s ‘branch’ office opens

The yuletide season has begun!

Thousands of people packed into Rockefeller Plaza last night for the annual Christmas tree- lighting ceremony, which featured an 80-foot Norway Spruce from an area of New Jersey hard hit by Hurricane Sandy.

The holiday extravaganza — which began in 1931 — featured performances by Rod Stewart, CeeLo Green, Mariah Carey and Tony Bennett.