O Tannenbaum, a German Carol
sung in German, by Patricia Cummings
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(The song is "O Christmas Tree" in English)
Christmas Tree in Concord, NH.
photo by James Cummings
In 1824, Ernst Anschütz wrote the lyrics you will hear, to the tune of an old folk song that had been around for quite awhile. The guide for the German section of about.com provides a literal translation of the German words. You will have to look elsewhere to find out how the English version is sung. One version of the words to the song can be read below.
O Tannebaum
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum
Wie treu sind deine Blätter
Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit
Nein, auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Wie treu sind deine Blätter.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
du kannst mir sehr gefallen.
Wie oft hat nicht zur Weinachtszeit
Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
du kannst mir sehr gefallen.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum
dein Kleid will mich was lehren
die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit
gibt Trost und Kraft zu jeder Zeit.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
dein Kleid will mich was lehren.
A pdf file online file provides an overview of the Christmas tree tradition which reportedly began in 1521 in Sélestat, a town that is situated forty kilometers south of Stausbourg in eastern France, near the German border, in an area known as Alsace.
At first decorated with small apples (ChristKindel Apfel) over time paper roses and other ornamentation was added to the trees. To view the very enjoyable file link provided by Elisabeth Fuchs please visit:
http://www.ville-selestat.fr/spip_noel/IMG/pdf/histoire_des_decorations_de_1_arbre_de_noel.pdf
Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, NH. pat@quiltersmuse.com