O Christmas Tree

"O Christmas Tree" is the English face of the German "O Tannenbaum," and it was not originally about Christmas at all. The fir tree it praises stands for constancy: it keeps its green through the dead of winter, which the song holds up as a model of faithfulness.

Origins

The song has deep roots in German musical history. The melody is a traditional folk tune whose origins date back to the sixteenth century. In 1820, educator August Zarnack wrote a version called "Der Tannenbaum," using the evergreen fir tree as a contrast to a tragic story about an unfaithful lover. In 1824, Ernst Anschütz, a schoolteacher and organist from Leipzig, revised Zarnack's lyrics. He transformed the song into a positive tribute, praising the tree for remaining green throughout the cold winter months, symbolizing faithfulness and constancy.

Association with Christmas

Although Anschütz did not write his version specifically for Christmas, the custom of decorating evergreen trees in Germany was already widespread. By the mid-nineteenth century, as the German Christmas tree tradition spread to Britain and the United States, "O Tannenbaum" was translated into English and adopted as a holiday carol. It has since become a standard seasonal classic worldwide.

What is the original meaning of "O Tannenbaum"?

The word "Tannenbaum" translates to fir tree in German. The original song was not a Christmas carol, but a poetic tribute to the evergreen tree. It praised the tree for staying green in both summer and winter, serving as a symbol of reliability, endurance, and faithfulness.

Who wrote the lyrics to "O Christmas Tree"?

The modern German lyrics were written by Ernst Anschütz in 1824. His version was later translated into English by various authors in the mid-nineteenth century, establishing the holiday carol known today.