"O Tannenbaum" (English: "Oh Christmas Tree") is a German Christmas carol. Based on a traditional folk song that was independent of Christmas, it became connected with the traditional Christmas tree by the middle of the 19th century and sung as a Christmas carol.
1 O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How green thy branches ever!
Thou still art green when summer wanes
And wintry winds sweep o'er the plains.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How green thy branches ever!
2 O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy verdant branches please me.
The sight of thee at Christmas time
Doth make me sing a joyful rhyme.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy verdant branches please me.
3 O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy dress so green would teach me:
Fair hope, in trouble and distress,
Is felt to be a sweet caress.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy dress so green would teach me.
4 O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
What golden lights adorn thee!
Like stars they shine in beauty bright,
To fill each heart with pure delight.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
What golden lights adorn thee!
5 O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How loving hands have decked thee!
Thus God's own love will make of me
For Paradise a shining tree.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How loving hands have decked thee!
Source: American Lutheran Hymnal #618
The Story Behind Oh Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)
The contemporary lyrics were composed in 1824, by the Leipzig organist, teacher, and composer Ernst Anschütz. A Tannenbaum is a fir tree, a species of evergreen coniferous trees in the family Pinaceae. The lyrics do not actually refer to the Bible story of Christmas or describe a decorated Christmas tree. Instead, they refer to the fir's evergreen quality as a symbol of constancy and faithfulness.
The folk song first became associated with Christmas with Anschütz, who added two verses of his own to the first, traditional verse. The custom of the Christmas tree developed in the course of the 19th century and the song came to be seen as a Christmas carol.
Listen to beautiful music videos of this Christmas carol below!
