"" (; "O fir tree"), known in English as "O Christmas Tree", is a German Christmas song. Based on a traditional folk song which was unrelated to Christmas, it became associated with the traditional Christmas tree. History The modern lyrics were written in 1824 by the Leipzig organist, teacher and composer Ernst Anschütz. A Tannenbaum is a fir tree. The lyrics do not actually refer to Christmas, or describe a decorated Christmas tree. Instead, they refer to the fir's evergreen quality as a symbol of constancy and faithfulness. Anschütz based his text on a 16th-century Silesian folk song by Melchior Franck, "". August Zarnack in 1819 wrote a tragic love song inspired by this folk song, taking the evergreen, "faithful" fir tree as contrasting with a faithless lover. The folk song first became associated with Christmas with Anschütz, who added two verses of his own to the first, traditional verse. The custom of the Christmas tree developed in the course of the 19th century, and the song came to be seen as a Christmas carol. Anschütz's version still had (true, faithful) as the adjective describing the fir's leaves (needles), harking back to the contrast to the faithless maiden of the folk song. This was changed to (green) at some point in the 20th century, after the song had come to be associated with Christmas. Melody The tune is an old folk tune attested in the 16th century. It is also known as the tune of "" and of "". Lyrics Other uses The tune has also been used (as a contrafactum) to carry other texts on many occasions. Notable uses include: "The Red Flag", anthem of the British and Irish Labour Parties Florida – "Florida, My Florida", former state song Maryland – "Maryland, My Maryland", former state song Michigan – "Michigan, My Michigan", widely believed to be the official state song Iowa – "The Song of Iowa", official state song Labrador – "Ode to Labrador", regional anthem Dickinson College's alma mater, "Noble Dickinsonia," with words written by Horatio Collins King. The College of the Holy Cross's alma mater is sung to the tune of "O Tannenbaum". When traveling by bus, schoolchildren in Sweden sing "En busschaufför" (Swedish for "a bus driver") or "Vår busschaufför" ("Our bus driver") to the melody. St. Bonaventure University alma mater, "With Myrtle Wreath We'll Deck Thy Brow" "Scout Vespers", used by the Boy Scouts of