Lyrics of the French Christmas Carol, 'Mon Beau Sapin'

"Mon beau sapin" is the French version of "O Christmas Tree." They are sung to the same tune, but the translation given is the literal translation of the French Christmas carol "Mon beau sapin," which is quite different than "O Christmas Tree."

The words for Christmas tree in French are le sapin de Noël. Sapin means fir tree in French.

French Lyrics and English Translation

Mon beau sapin,
Roi des forêts,
Que j'aime ta verdure.
Quand vient l'hiver
Bois et guérets
Sont dépouillés
De leurs attraits.
Mon beau sapin,
Roi des forêts,
Que j'aime ta parure.

My beautiful tree,
King of the forests,
How I love your greenness.
When winter come
Woods and tillages
Are stripped
Of their attractions.
My beautiful tree,
King of the forests,
How I love your finery.

Tannenbaum to Christmas Tree and Beau Sapin

The melody of this song is from an old folk tune from Germany, as modified in 1824 by Ernst Anschütz, an organist in Leipzig. His Tannenbaum is the basis for the English and French versions. Tannenbaum means fir tree in German, and sapin likewise means fir tree in French. While the original folk song was about tragic love and faithless lover, the version by Anschütz gave it more of a Christmas significance. It was adopted as a carol, lauding the Christmas tree. As the tradition of the Christmas tree spread to England and the Americas, the song was adapted into English.

James Taylor recorded the song, "Mon Beau Sapin," and included it on his 2012 "James Taylor at Christmas" album. It was not included in the original 2006 edition.