The Christmas season is now with us and decorated trees have been set up all over the place (including the Internet). In England the custom was started in Victorian times by Prince Albert in the middle of the Nineteenth century but times have changed and nowadays electric lights have replaced candles and, in many cases, artificial trees have replaced real ones.

However in London's Trafalgar Square there is always a large Norwegian Spruce tree kindly provided by the people of Oslo. It has had plain white lights on it as long as I can remember and most evenings near Christmas there are groups of people singing carols around it in aid of various charities.

Our family always used to prefer real trees - despite all the pine needles that dropped on the carpet and get everwhere! Somehow the special sprays never really seemed to work. Or perhaps it was because we like to have blazing coal and log fires at Christmas - not something recommended by the US National Christmas Tree Association in its helpful information on how to care for your tree! However, a couple of years ago we decided to go for an artificial tree and clearing up took much less time.

The fairy doll that goes on the top of our tree each year is now fairly elderly (having been in the family for over 50 years) but doesn't really show her age!

A favourite carol of mine is O Tannenbaum , although rather surprisingly it is sung to the same tune as The Red Flag. The English translation is as follows:

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Your leaves are faithful ever.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Your leaves are faithful ever,
Not only green when summer glows
But in the winter when it snows.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Your leaves are faithful ever.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
You are the tree most loved.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
You are the tree most loved.
How oft you've given me delight
When Christmas fires were burning bright.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
You are the tree most loved.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Your faithful leaves will teach me.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Your faithful leaves will teach me
That hope and love and constancy
Give joy and peace eternally.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Your faithful leaves will teach me.

I would be happy to add the original German words if anyone cares to send them to me.

I would also like to learn about Christmas Tree customs elsewhere along with pictures to add to this page (provided that the pictures are not too large!). Meanwhile...

  
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                               "BOAS FESTAS"
                               "JOYEUX  NOEL"
                              "VESELE VANOCE"
                             "MELE KALIKIMAKA"
                            "NODLAG SONA DHUIT"
                           "BLWYDDYN NEWYDD DDA"
                                 "GOD  JUL"
                                "BUON  ANNO"
                               "FELIZ  NATAL"
                              "FELIZ NAVIDAD"
                             "MERRY CHRISTMAS"
                            "KALA CHRISTOUGENA"
                           "VROLIJK  KERSTFEEST"
                          "FROHLICHE WEIHNACHTEN"
                         "BUON  NATALE-GODT NYTAR"
                        "HUAN YING SHENG TAN CHIEH"
                       "WESOLYCH SWIAT-SRETAN BOZIC"
                      "MOADIM LESIMHA-LINKSMU KALEDU"
                     "HAUSKAA JOULUA-AID SAID MOUBARK"
                          "'N  PRETTIG  KERSTMIS"
                         "ONNZLLISTA UUTTA VUOTTA"
                        "Z ROZHDESTYOM  KHRYSTOVYM"
                       "NADOLIG LLAWEN-GOTT NYTTSAR"
                      "FELIC NADAL-GOJAN KRISTNASKON"
                     "S  NOVYM  GODOM-FELIZ ANO NUEVO"
                    "GLEDILEG JOL-NOELINIZ KUTLU OLSUM"
                   "EEN GELUKKIG NIEUWJAAR-SRETAN BOSIC"
                  "KRIHSTLINDJA GEZUAR-KALA CHRISTOUGENA"
                 "SELAMAT HARI NATAL - LAHNINGU NAJU METU"
                      "SARBATORI FERICITE-BUON  ANNO"
                     "ZORIONEKO GABON-HRISTOS SE RODI"
                    "BOLDOG KARACSONNY-VESELE  VIANOCE "
                   "MERRY CHRISTMAS  - -  HAPPY NEW YEAR"
                  "ROOMSAID JOULU PUHI -KUNG HO SHENG TEN"
                 "FELICES PASUAS-EIN GLUCKICHES    NEWJAHR"
                "PRIECIGUS ZIEMAN SVETKUS  SARBATORI VESLLE"
               "BONNE ANNEBLWYDDYN NEWYDD DDADRFELIZ    NATAL"
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Best wishes to all the people who have visited this page since 15 December when I uploaded it once again. I would welcome any comments you may have. Please send them to: keg@greenhse.netkonect.co.uk

When you get time to start planning your next summer holiday, you may like to check out my main pages at 1468 The Tropics for information about various islands that you might like to visit.

Kris Green

This page was last modified on 15 December 2008