A good Christmas story can linger long in our hearts

One of the most popular Christmas stories written for the “Billie the Brownie” radio program produced by WTMJ in Milwaukee, Wis., during the early 1940s was: “Why the Christmas Tree Is Always Green.” 

Here’s an abridged version of the tale:

It happened hundreds of years ago when Christmas trees were very young. The first Christmas tree was very unhappy. 

It wasn’t fond of its sharp green needles, saying: “I hate my needles. Oh, how I wish I had beautiful leaves of gold.”

Suddenly, the Wood Fairy appeared and said, “You shall have your wish.”

So, in the morning, there was the little Christmas tree covered with leaves of pure gold. The tree was very happy. It said to itself: “I’ll pick these leaves and sell them, and I’ll be rich.”

Soon, the little tree was bare and very ugly and cold and started to cry. The Wood Fairy appeared again, and the Christmas tree said: “Please give me leaves of glass so I can glisten and sparkle in the sunshine.”

In the morning, the tree’s glass leaves glistened beautifully in the sunlight, and the birds and animals came from miles around to see the wonderful sight…and the Christmas tree was very happy.

Then came a strong wind, and the glass leaves were blown off and broken into bits. The Christmas tree was naked and ugly. It cried and cried and soon the Wood Fairy appeared and said, “Well, little tree, what now?”

The Christmas tree answered: “I was foolish and wrong, please give me another chance. I would love pretty green leaves like those on the olive tree.”

In the morning, the Christmas tree was covered in pretty green leaves, but along came a billy goat looking for breakfast. He saw the little tree and he ate, and ate, and ate…until the tree was bare and ugly.

The Wood Fairy observed from afar but chose not to intervene…waiting for the little Christmas tree to initiate the conversation.

Finally, the Christmas tree said: “Woody Fairy, I have learned my lesson. I want my beautiful green needles back.”

“Would you love them and keep them?” the Wood Fairy asked.

“Please, I’d love them so much I won’t even let them go when winter comes,” the Christmas tree replied. “I shall keep them all year long.”

 

The Wood Fairy decided, “Yes, little tree, you’ve learned your lesson. Needles are best for little Christmas trees.”

In the morning, the Christmas tree was full of lovely green needles, and the birds and animals came to see the tree and tell it how beautiful it was. To them, the green needles felt soft and not sharp.

 

And one old saucy robin remarked: “‘bout time that Christmas tree got some sense.”

So, when you look at your Christmas tree, think of this story.

 

Sari Goodman Ross was the voice actor who played the role of Billie the Brownie on the radio from 1943-45, when WTMJ personality Larry Teich (Captain Larry) first read the “Why the Christmas Tree Is Always Green” story to WTMJ listeners.

 

Ross said her stint as WTMJ is what led her to become a professional storyteller. One of her favorite yarns to share with young audiences the world over was “Why the Christmas Tree Is Always Green.” Ross died in 2015 at age 86.

Special thanks to author Doris Alaimo-Melillo, for sharing the “Why the Christmas Tree Is Always Green” transcript.

 

Doris remembers hearing the story over the radio as a young girl growing up in Milwaukee, which is one of the reasons why she wrote the book, “Dori Mae and Her Friend Billie.”