21 Dec 2009 – Oh Christmas Tree, Thy candles shine so brightly…

A traditional German Carol/O Tannenbaum. The composer and author of the lyrics is unknown. The tradition of bringing a tree inside and decorating it started in the 19th century and is immortalized by this carol. During my stay in Norway, we had real candles on the tree and on Christmas eve we walked around it with the children singing carols. Fond memories of my first Christmas in Norway (1968) when Nils HALD, Linn & May‘s uncle taught me how to say all the Christmas decorations on the tree in Norwegian! Takk Nils! Jeg husker alt, god jul til deg og dine. It was the first time I met the HALD family and also when I understood what Christmas was all about. Appreciation and gratitude to a most gracious family.

I have been looking on, this evening at a merry company of children assembled round that pretty German toy, a Christmas Tree. The tree was planted in the middle of a great round table, and towered high above their heads. It was brilliantly lighted by a multitude of little tapers; and everywhere sparkled and glittered with bright objects – Charles Dickens.

But none can ever take the place of Charlie Brown’s!