The original 1819 first verse of “O Tannenbaum” translates to “O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how faithful are your branches. You are green not only in summertime, but also in winter when it snows. O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how faithful are your branches.”  (Provided photo — Diane Chase)

What in all the Christmas crackers? I just learned that the Christmas carol “O Tannenbaum” actually means O fir tree, not the English translation of “O Christmas Tree.” What the what, what?

The sad part is I’ve been living in my own off-key caroling world, not understanding the words I’m singing. I was foolishly thinking that I may not know another language, but at least had a working knowledge of a German carol.

To my credit and apparent laziness, I have never given it any thought until my husband told me that “O Tannenbaum” didn’t originally mean what I think it means.

As with anything dating back to the 16th century, there isn’t an exact timeline for when things evolved, and there may be some folk-telling about the folktale.

According to Deutsche Welle, Germany’s independent news broadcaster, the song originated from a 16th-century Silesian (now modern-day Poland) folk song attributed to Melchior Franck. In 1819, August Zarnack wrote lyrics to the original song comparing his heartbreak with an unfaithful person to the steadfastness and beauty of the fir tree, using the tree as a symbol of loyalty.

Zarnack’s first verse is familiar to anyone who has listened to or sung the carol. It is the next verse that strays from holiday cheer to despair as Zarnack tells the world how the maiden only stood by him when he had money. In subsequent verses, he compares her disloyalty to a seasonal nightingale and a dried up stream that is only available when it rains.

In 1825, German teacher Ernst Anschutz rewrote verses of the song for his students to symbolize joy and hope. As more people embraced the tradition of having a Christmas tree, Anschutz added more verses, creating the popular seasonal song celebrating the beauty of the Christmas tree.

It is still a beautiful song, even though its original lyrics may have been grim. Songs are constantly reworked and rewritten. Though tannenbaum may literally mean fir tree, the use in the holiday song has become synonymous with Christmas tree. I do like thinking about a fir tree as loyal and steadfast.

Now I have to check on my other Christmas carols. Does Feliz Navidad even mean Merry Christmas? (It does. Whew!) Google never lies, right?

Fun fact: The song “Feliz Navidad” was written by Puerto Rican songwriter José Feliciano in 1970. It isn’t a Spanish or Mexican song. It’s American. But you probably knew that already.