As the Christmas season draws closer, a classic (but rarely heard nowadays) German hymn is ,,O Tannenbaum". There are a number of variations on several stanzas. Here's verse one:
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blätter!
Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerszeit,
nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit,
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blätter!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How green your leaves are!
Not only in the summertime,
But even in winter is your prime.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How green your leaves are!
This hymn actually appeared in the American Lutheran Hymnal of 1930. This hymnal was published by the American Lutheran Church. I have not seen this hymn in any other Lutheran hymnal I have in my possession.
When I was in the second grade, we actually sang this hymn for the Christmas pageant in both English and in German. Even more remarkable, this was in the public school around 1975. Man alive, things have changed in the public schools since then.
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