O Christmas Tree
By RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (95912)
Daytona Beach, Florida
December 8, 2025 3:46pm CST
Interestingly, neither the text nor the music of "Tannenbaum" started as a song associated with Christmas. Tannenbaum means "fir tree" not "Christmas tree." In 1820 a preacher and folk music collector, August Zarnack published a love song titled "O Tannenbaum" in which the fir tree is contrasted with a faithless lover. His poem was set to the music of the German folk tune associated with the carol, first published in 1799.
At this time the custom of evergreen trees used as Christmas trees was becoming popular in Germany. A schoolmaster and organist, Ernst Anschutz borrowed the first verse of the love song by Zarnack and added two verses of his own. Today "O Tannenbaum" or "Oh Christmas Tree" remains one of the most sung and popular Christmas carols. The melody is used for several American state songs and college Alma Maters.
Now this is not the traditional song but the melody is there and I think it will brighten your day and the cats are adorable
Your browser isn’t supported anymore. Update it to get the best YouTube experience and our latest features. Learn more
10 people like this
9 responses
@xstitcher (38420)
• Petaluma, California
9 Dec
Really? You learn something new every day.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (95912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Dec
@xsticher you mean the information about the song?
@RasmaSandra (95912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Dec
@just4him love this song and you know thinking of Christmas trees it actually makes me sad to see Christmas lights wrapped around a palm tree,
1 person likes this
@just4him (322541)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
10 Dec
@RasmaSandra I find it interesting to decorate a palm tree.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (187242)
• Boise, Idaho
8 Dec
How cute! The black one looks like Finn and the black and white was looks like Mittens. What cute lyrics.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (95912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Dec
@celticeagle yes, I just love those cats. We had these knitted little monkeys with hanging tails we put on our small Christmas trees along with some ornaments. Our first cat never bothered the ornament but one Christmas I had the amusing sight of her running past me with one of those monkeys from the tree in her mouth,
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (187242)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Dec
@RasmaSandra ........Oh, dear. I have never had an issue with cats bugging our trees and we've always had cats.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (497163)
• Italy
10 Dec
@RasmaSandra - yes I do, we used to sing this for Christmas during German classes in school.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (95912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Dec
@LadyDuck do you know it in German?
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (95912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Dec
@JudyEV personally after seeing that video I think all cat lovers should put up two trees one for them and one for the cats,
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (376212)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Dec
@RasmaSandra That would be an excellent idea.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (217827)
• United States
10 Dec
The cats did exactly what I would expect them to do. lol Thank you for the back story on the song.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (95912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Dec
@LindaOHio glad you enjoyed this,
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (95912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Dec
@AmbiePam the photo is free online and yes, that video certainly made me smile, I think the guy who created it is a genius; I could not imagine thinking of the words Oh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree your ornament are history, which just tickles me pink.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (95912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Dec
@snow22315 except for the melody the Latvian version seems completely different to the English and often confused me when I sang it in either language,
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (95912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Dec
@LeaPea that was discovered online. How did you like the cats in the video?
