Series of Postcards by Oskar Herrfuth
The Fir Tree is a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen written in 1845. It's one of his numerous stories for children with less usual main/title characters. While we are used to people or animals in leading roles, we are dealing with a fir tree, a classic choice for a Christmas tree for centuries.
The Fir Tree is a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen written in 1845. It's one of his numerous stories for children with less usual main/title characters. While we are used to people or animals in leading roles, we are dealing with a fir tree, a classic choice for a Christmas tree for centuries.
A fir tree grows very slowly. This is usual for fir trees but this particular fir tree is impatient. It wants to be bigger, higher, stronger. It looks around and it seems every other tree is higher. Children come by and notice how cute this fir tree is. Yet, cuteness is not enough. It wants to grow up.
Eventually, it grows up. it notices some trees are being cut. It asks around what happens to these trees. He hears some are used for masts in boats. He dreams about being a mast on the ship. It wants to go the see. It has no idea what is a boat or sea but still.
Then it hears that some trees are taken to people's homes. There they are decorated with cakes and toys. The fir tree would love to follow them. It has no time to enjoy the sun and fresh air and the birds singing. It's too impatient.
Eventually, it grows up. it notices some trees are being cut. It asks around what happens to these trees. He hears some are used for masts in boats. He dreams about being a mast on the ship. It wants to go the see. It has no idea what is a boat or sea but still.
Then it hears that some trees are taken to people's homes. There they are decorated with cakes and toys. The fir tree would love to follow them. It has no time to enjoy the sun and fresh air and the birds singing. It's too impatient.
Not long before Christmas, the fir tree is cut. As one of several fir trees, it's taken out of the wood. Fir trees are offered on the market and this one is the prettiest of all. It's chosen as the first of all.
Fir's tree wish is fulfilled. It's taken to a house.
Fir's tree wish is fulfilled. It's taken to a house.
The fir tree is decorated with bags made of colored paper. These bags are filled with sweets. Apples and walnuts are hanging from some of the branches. The fir tree is very proud. It hopes other trees will come to see it. Or maybe the birds?
The fir tree is in the center of the action. Kids take all the sweets. Then they dance around. Finally, a story is told to the children sitting under the tree. It's a story about Humpty Dumpty. It's the first story the fir tree hears.
When Christmas time is over, the fir tree is taken to a garret. It's left there in a dark corner.
When Christmas time is over, the fir tree is taken to a garret. It's left there in a dark corner.
Mice come to visit the fir tree. It tells them about the woods and the sun and the house and the children. It tells them the story about Humpty Dumpty. Mice come several nights in a row. They like to listen to the memories but soon get bored of listening to the story about Humpty Dumpty. The fir tree doesn't know anymore. It stays alone.
It remembers the old days and thinks how happy they were. It hopes it will come again.
Sometime later, it's taken out of the garret. It's dragged to the yard and chopped to pieces. The pieces of the fir tree are put into fire.
The life of the fir tree is over, just like every story must finish.
It remembers the old days and thinks how happy they were. It hopes it will come again.
Sometime later, it's taken out of the garret. It's dragged to the yard and chopped to pieces. The pieces of the fir tree are put into fire.
The life of the fir tree is over, just like every story must finish.
The fir tree knew only one story. You can read a few more by visiting this post with classic Christmas stories.
If you enjoyed Oskar Herrfurth's set of postcards based on Andersen's fairy tale about the fir tree, share this post with friends!
If you enjoyed Oskar Herrfurth's set of postcards based on Andersen's fairy tale about the fir tree, share this post with friends!
