The First Christmas Tree by Eugene Field
The poem tells the story of a young girl who asks her brother to take her to see a Christmas tree set up by Martin Luther. The brother agrees and they go together to see the tree, which is decorated with candles and fruits. The sister is delighted by the sight and feels happy.
By Eugene Field · First published 1893 · Genre: Fantasy, Religious, Children's Literature · 2,269 words
First lines
Once upon a time the forest was in a great commotion. Early in the evening / the wise old cedars had shaken their heads ominously and predicted strange / things. They had lived in the forest many, many years; but never had they / seen such marvellous sights as were to be seen now in the sky, and upon / the hills, and in the distant village.
"Pray tell us what you see," pleaded a little vine; "we who are not as / tall as you can behold none of these wonderful things. Describe them to / us, that we may enjoy them with you."
What this Textopian page supports
The First Christmas Tree is listed on Textopian as a short story by Eugene Field, dated 1893 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Eugene Field
- Date: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Religious, Children's Literature, Allegory, Christmas Literature
- Length: 2,269 words
- Structure: 1 section, 29 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The First Christmas Tree by Eugene Field
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Similar titles
- Holly And Ivy by Eugene Field
- Das Krist Kindel by James Whitcomb Riley
- The First Christmas Tree by Henry Van Dyke
- The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen
- Bread On The Waters A Washington Christmas by Edward Everett Hale
- The War In Heaven by Charles Kingsley
Genres
- Fantasy — The story features magical elements such as angels, singing stars, and a talking tree, creating a fantastical setting.
- Religious — The narrative centers around the birth of Christ and themes of faith, love, and the divine, making it deeply religious.
- Children's Literature — The simple language and moral lessons make it suitable for a young audience, typical of children's stories.
- Allegory — The story serves as an allegory for the life of Christ and the themes of sacrifice and redemption.
Tags
Christmas · Fiction · Children's literature · Holiday story · Winter · Family · Tradition · Religion · Christianity · Historical fiction · 19th century · Germany