O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!...

Das soll dein Kleid mich lehren

A Tannenbaum is a fir tree (die Tanne) or Christmas tree (der Weihnachtsbaum). Although most Christmas trees today are Fichten (spruce) rather than Tannen, the qualities of the evergreen have inspired musicians to write several “Tannenbaum” songs in German over the years. The best known version was penned in 1824 by a Leipzig organist named Ernst Anschütz. The melody is an old folk tune. The first known “Tannenbaum” song lyrics date back to 1550. A similar 1615 song by Melchior Franck (1573-1639) goes: “Ach Tannebaum, ach Tannebaum, du bist ein edler Zweig! Du grünest uns den Winter, die lieben Sommerzeit.”

PHOTOS by Crowell Hadden

History by germen-way.com

Horse ornaments from The Fun Shop

Golf ornament courtesy of the editor

Trees from: Hartland Farm the day after Thanksgiving

12230 Belle Meade Rd Markham, VA 22643. http://www.hartlandfarmandorchard.com/