Merry German Christmas: Am Weihnachtsbaum die Lichter Brennen

I am sharing some of my favorite German Christmas carols - many of which are not well known in America.  These traditional carols share the anticipation of the coming of the Christ child as well as the beauty of the winter season.  I've already shared 2 other favorites:

Leise Rieselt der Schnee
O Du Fröhliche

Today I wanted to mention Am Weihnachtsbaum die Lichter Brennen.  Here is a youtube video of an icon of German music singing the song - Heino; he was a favorite singer of my Oma & Opa.  (Believe it or not, he is one of the most successful German singers of all time - best known for his hits and folk music.  He actually realized a Christmas album in 2016 - at the age of 78.)

Am Weihnachtsbaum die Lichter brennen

The lyrics were written by Herman Kletke in the early 1800s.  It might be the second carol written about a Christmas tree since O Tannenbaum, which is thought to be the first.  

Am Weihnachtsbaum die Lichter brennen,

wie glänzt er festlich, lieb und mild,

als spräch‘ er: „Wollt in mir erkennen

getreuer Hoffnung stilles Bild!“

Die Kinder stehn mit hellen Blicken,

das Auge lacht, es lacht das Herz,

o fröhlich seliges Entzücken!

Die Alten schauen himmelwärts.

Zwei Engel sind hereingetreten,

kein Auge hat sie kommen seh’n,

sie gehn zum Weihnachtstisch und beten,

und wenden wieder sich und geh’n.

„Gesegnet seid, ihr alten Leute,

gesegnet sei, du kleine Schar!

Wir bringen Gottes Segen heute

dem braunen wie dem weißen Haar.

Zu guten Menschen, die sich lieben,

schickt uns der Herr als Boten aus,

und seid ihr treu und fromm geblieben,

wir treten wieder in dies Haus.“

Kein Ohr hat ihren Spruch vernommen,

unsichtbar jedes Menschen Blick

sind sie gegangen wie gekommen,

doch Gottes Segen blieb zurück.

TRANSLATION:

On the Christmas tree the lights are burning 

How it glows festive, lovely and mild

As if it were saying: "See in me

The silent picture of faithful hope!"

The children stand with bright glances

The eye laughs, the heart as well

Oh cheerfully blessed delight!

The old look heavenwards.

Two angels came in

Nobody has seen them coming

They go the Christmas table and pray

And then turn around and leave

"Blessed be, you old people,

Blessed be this small bevy!

We bring you God's bessing today

To those with brown as well as gray hair.

To good people who love each other

God sends us as messengers

And when you stayed faithful and devout

We will come to this house again."

No ear has heard their saying

Invisible for the human beings

They are gone like they came

But God's Blessing stays.