A German Christmas Tree

A Zeisig, Metzger, Lull family tradition for over 75 – 80 years is carried on with the Lull / Eshelman family Christmas.


Some of you might be familiar with the traditional German Christmas tree that Bill and Connie have been putting up since 1973. The tree has been in Connie’s family for over 75 years, over 150 years dating back to Saxony, Germany.

Since Bills passing, the weekend after “cookie day” the son-in-laws put up the tree and the girls, making a day of it with their mother, decorating the “pyramid” tree. With Connie’s passing her daughters decided that since Christmas Day was spent at our home with family that the tradition should continue on Erie Street.

Connie’s grand father, Emil Zeisig, had the idea to build a “pyramid” Christmas tree which his grandfather and great grandfather had made 75 years earlier in Germany. Emil had missed this tradition while living in America and with the help of Connie’s father, Gabriel Metzger the three tear (“Dreh Turm”, turning tower) Christmas tree was built.

The tree was originally built with hand made card board fins. The fins were attached to a wooden broom stick handle and used to deflect the heat from burning candles thus turning the three centered tables The bottom of the broom stick had a needle in it that rested on a piece of glass that carries the weight of the tables and their displays. Emil hand carved the picket fence from cigar boxes.

Over the years the tree has seen some improvements. The broom stick handle has been replaced with a metal pole. The fins replaced with metal frames and aluminum foil. The picked fence remains as built.
With the tree balanced properly, the warmth from the sun light coming in through the windows (large picture windows at 756 Stewart Ave) and rising to the ceiling would deflect off the pyramids fins and slowly turn the tables. Candles are lit on occasion and under strict supervision.