Giant Christmas Tree Snaps During Hoisting

ATLANTA (AP) - It's the Drought That Stole Christmas.

Macy's at Atlanta's Lenox Mall must cut down a new Christmas tree after the 60-foot white pine selected for the holidays snapped while being hoisted atop the department store Sunday morning. Melissa Goff with Macy's said the store usually selects its tree from a Georgia forest, but drought conditions have made it difficult to find a healthy tree this year.

She said the 11,000-pound tree was from Douglas County. She said a backup tree has been selected and will be brought in this week.

The tree will be decorated between now and Thanksgiving Day, when the store will hold a lighting ceremony, a 63-year tradition.

It's not the first time the store has had to get a backup tree: the 2004 tree also broke.