There's a holiday song called 'O Tennenbaum' that has the same tune as 'O Christmas Tree'....my question is this: Isn't Tennenbaum a Jewish name...what is the connection if at all...clear this up for me please?
Question #14969. Asked by an alias.
Last updated Apr 29 2023.
Response last updated by satguru on Apr 29 2023.
Dec 14 2001, 4:21 AM
finlady
Answer has 2 votes
finlady 25 year member
254 replies
Answer has 2 votes.
In German tannenbaum means 'fir tree'. Yes Tannenbaum is a Jewish family name, but there is no connection to Christmas in the family name. The song however is refering to a fir tree. Our Christmas trees are fir trees.
Dec 14 2001, 11:08 AM
flem
Answer has 2 votes
flem
Answer has 2 votes.
T-E-nnenbaum looks like a contamination between Dutch/Flemish and German. Dutch has {denneboom;German} has Tannenbaum. The song was made popular here during First World War.Also other songs such as 'Silent Night, Holy Night' pushed the existing, less sentimental medieval Christmas carols to the background.