I like Christmas songs.  I enjoy the ones promoting the reason for the season (the birth of Jesus) as well as the more traditional ones that are more for fun.  But a few of the “fun” holiday songs make me wonder.  For example, why do we sing a song to a Christmas tree?   I’m referring to “O Tannenbaum”, or “O Christmas Tree”.

I don’t know what the official lyrics are to the song, because apparently there are many versions, with many verses.  Some of them have overt Christian meanings, while some are kinda weird taken by themselves.  Let’s look at a few of the latter variety.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
How faithful are thy branches!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Green not alone in summertime,
But in the winter’s frost and rime;
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
How faithful are thy branches.

Oh Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou tree most fair and lovely!
The sight of thee at Christmastide
Spreads hope and gladness far and wide
Oh Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
Thou tree most fair and lovely!

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
You stand in verdant beauty
Your boughs are green in summer’s glow
And do not fade in winter’s snow
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
You stand in verdant beauty

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
How laden are your branches
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Your presence here enhances
Your silver star does glisten bright
Reflecting all the candlelight
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
How laden are your branches

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
You fill all hearts with gaiety
On Christmas Day you stand so tall
Affording joy to one and all
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
You fill all hearts with gaiety

Based on those lyrics, I have to wonder why a song was written to a Christmas tree…  I realize there are a lot of silly songs that have been written, but this song has been popular for hundreds of years…