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 Weihnachtszeit

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!

Das soll dein Kleid mich lehren.

A popular English version of this song:

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches! In beauty green will always grow through summer sun and winter snow. O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches! O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree, you are the tree most loved! How often you give us delight in brightly shining Christmas light! O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree, you are the tree most loved! O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, your beauty green will teach me that hope and love will ever be the way to joy and peace for me. O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, your beauty green will teach me.

****

One wouldn't think that something so beautiful could generate controversy, but it has, and I'm acutely aware of that this season. After centuries, the debate still goes on as to what is the origin of the decorated tree (pagan or religious symbol) and what it represents. Whether or not one cut down a tree and decorates it with ornamentation that signified the stars, or the god(s), seems to stir up considerable discussion on chat boards. In my reading I learned that one could have been arrested for having and decorating a tree at home. Apparently there were occasions in which a tree in the town square or a tree at church was permissible, however.

There are references that go back to the Old Testament Prophet Jeremiah and his condemnation of decorated trees:

Jeremiah 10:2-4: "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not." (King James Version).

You know, I've read the book of Jeremiah, yet somehow that one blew right past me, lol.

Whether we credit the Estonians or Latvians, the Germans or Queen Victoria and Prince Albert for showing us the way to Christmas tree enlightenment, or skip all that and put the origin of our tree back with the pagans, or not, it's a beautiful custom, and I'm not willing to make it a point of contention. I will admit there was considerable discussion regarding our tree's decoration this year...

Right now it's standing there in the living room window reminding me of one of those jeweled tree pins ladies wear. It's certainly cheerful and I'm glad about our sweet little tree. Each ornament represents something special to me and I'm going to be quite reluctant to take it down and tuck it away until next year....

Happy New Year...

Shawn & SGTex

****