August Imgard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Augustus "August" Imgard (1828-1904) was a German immigrant who has been recognized as an early proponent in popularizing the Christmas tree in the United States.[1][2][3] He has also been credited with being the first to decorate it with candy canes.[4][5]
August Imgard (born in Wetzlar, Germany, on January 8, 1828) emigrated from Germany to Wooster, Ohio, before he was 20 years old and started a tailoring business.[2][6]
In 1847, Imgard cut a blue spruce tree from a wood outside of town, had the village tinsmith construct a star, and placed the tree in his house, decorating it with paper ornaments, gilded nuts, and kuchen. It stood on a slowly revolving platform while a music box played and people came from miles around to view it.[2] Imgard died in 1904, is buried in the Wooster Cemetery, and, every year, a large pine tree above his grave is lit with Christmas lights.[7][8][9]
Although no longer credited as the first to introduce the Christmas tree to America, Imgard is still recognized as an early proponent.[10] The National Confectioners Association also recognizes Imgard as the first to put candy canes on a Christmas tree.[11] However, as reported by WKYC Studios -- a news station based in Cleveland, Ohio -- the first candy canes were originally all white, with no red stripes.[12] In fact, according to Akron Beacon Journal -- a newspaper publisher based in Akron, Ohio -- white candy canes with red stripes would not become the standard of candy canes for the next half-century -- over 50 years after Imgard first popularized the candy cane.[13]
References
- ↑ Gasbarre, Ann (23 December 2016). "Imgard recalled story of tree". Wooster Daily Record. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- 1 2 3 "They're Still Cheering Man Who Gave America Christmas Tree". Wooster Daily Record. Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 24 December 1938. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
- ↑ "Wooster: Home of the Christmas Tree?". Wooster Digital History Project. College of Wooster. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ↑ Parker, Rick (19 October 2001). Introduction to Food Science (1st ed.). United States of America: Delmar Cengage Learning. p. 405. ISBN 978-0-7668-1314-4. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
In 1670, the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral gave sugar sticks to his young singers to keep them quiet during the long Living Crèche ceremony. In honor of the occasion, he had the candies bent into shepherds' crooks. In 1847, a German-Swedish immigrant named August Imgard of Wooster, Ohio, decorated a small pine tree with paper ornaments and candy canes.
- ↑ Parker, Rick (2003). Introduction to Food Science. Internet Archive (1st ed.). United States of America: Delmar Cengage Learning. p. 405. ISBN 978-0-7668-1314-4. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ↑ "August Imgard - Tailor". Wayne County, Ohio Online Resource Center. Wayne County Public Library. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ↑ Gasbarre, Ann (20 December 2018). "Bits and Pieces: Wooster's first Christmas tree appeared in 1847". Wooster Daily Record. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ↑ Libben, Kenny (23 December 2019). "Did you know the first Christmas tree in America is a local story?". Ashland Source - Ashland County Ohio News & Info. The Cleo Redd Fisher Museum. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
- ↑ Libben, Kenny (23 December 2019). "Tomb of August Imgard (1947) - Social Media Post". Facebook. The Cleo Redd Fisher Museum. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ↑ Gajanan, Mahita (20 December 2017). "Candy Canes Are Everywhere During Christmas. Here's Why". TIME. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ↑ "A Candy Cane Story". Always A Treat. National Confectioners Association. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ↑ Bibb, Leon; Moses, Susan; Choate, Ty (22 December 2023). "Wooster and the first Christmas tree? Leon Bibb on the origins of this American Yuletide tradition". WKYC. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ↑ Schleis, Paula (24 December 2017). "Wooster immigrant first in the area to celebrate Christmas with a decorated tree". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 21 September 2025.