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. He has also been credited with being the first to decorate it with

candy cane A candy cane is a cane-shaped stick candy often associated with Christmastide, as well as Saint Nicholas Day. It is traditionally white with red stripes and flavored with peppermint, but they also come in a variety of other flavors and colors. ...

Biography

August Imgard emigrated from the Bavarian mountains of Germany to

Wooster, Ohio Wooster ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Wayne County. Located in northeastern Ohio, the city lies approximately south-southwest of Cleveland, southwest of Akron and west of Canton. The population was 27,232 at ...

before he was 20 years old and started a tailoring business. In 1847, Imgard cut a blue spruce tree from a woods outside town, had the village

tinsmith A tinsmith is a person who makes and repairs things made of tin or other light metals. The profession may sometimes also be known as a tinner, tinker, tinman, or tinplate worker; whitesmith may also refer to this profession, though the same w ...

construct a star, and placed the tree in his house, decorating it with paper ornaments, gilded nuts and

Kuchen Kuchen (), the German word for cake, is used in other languages as the name for several different types of savory or sweet desserts, pastries, and gateaux. Most Kuchen have eggs, flour and sugar as common ingredients while also, but not always, ...

. It stood on a slowly revolving platform while a music box played and people came from miles around to view it. 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. Although no longer credited as the first to introduce the Christmas tree to America, Imgard is still recognized as an early proponent. The

National Confectioners Association The National Confectioners Association is an American trade organization that promotes chocolate, candy, gum and mints, and the companies that make these treats. NCA lobbies the American government in favor of the confectionery industry, evaluate ...

also recognizes Imgard as the first to put candy canes on a Christmas tree; the canes were white, with no red stripes.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Imgard, August 1828 births 1904 deaths Bavarian emigrants to the United States People from Wooster, Ohio Christmas traditions