German words expats should know: Tannenbaum

Have you put yours up yet? Alongside baby Jesus, Father Christmas and a chorus of angels, we get to know the German word for another of the best-known Christmas symbols, the Tannenbaum.

What is a Tannenbaum in English?

Literally translated, das Tannenbaum is the German word for a fir tree. Given that different fir tree species are among the most popular Christmas trees in Germany, during the Christmas season “das Tannenbaum" can also be used interchangeably with the word for Christmas tree, “Weihnachtsbaum”.

Germany and what is modern Estonia are the original homes of the Christmas tree tradition, with the first firs popping up in homes in the 1500s.

The story goes that in 1510 a group of German merchants, who were members of a guild called the Brotherhood of Blackheads, placed a spruce tree outside their headquarters and set fire to it to celebrate the birth of Jesus. 

Make sure to soak the base of your highly flammable tree in a wet towel or water its soil if you don’t plan to celebrate à la the Brotherhood of Blackheads and want to avoid a Christmas tragedy.

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum

If the word Tannenbaum sounds familiar to your non-German ear, that’s because it probably is. The Tannenbaum is the main character of what has become one of the world’s favourite Christmas carols O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, also known as O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree.

The Christmas carol was not originally written as an ode to the festive totem, but to the humble fir tree, naked of glitzy baubles and tinsel. Penned by Leipzig organist Ernst Anschütz in 1824, the tune of O Tannenbaum was recognised as such an Ohrwurm that it would go on to inspire many other tunes, including the former state anthem of Florida and the anthems of the British and Irish Labour parties.

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