August emigrated to America from Germany, and started a small tailoring business in the small town of Wooster, Ohio. He became homesick as Christmas drew near, so he decided to bring a Bavarian tradition to his new home. According to legend he crossed the Little Apple Creek, cut down a small blue spruce, carried it back across the creek, and drew gazes from the locals as he dragged it through town. He then had a local tin smithe make him a star for the top, and decorated it for his family and friends with candies, paper ornaments, apples, candles, nuts and popcorn. The new tradiion quickly caught on, and spread throughout the area.
Overtime it has been proven that this was not only NOT the first Christmas tree in America, it wasn't even the first one in Ohio. However it is still believed that he was the first person to decorate his tree with candy canes. Either way, he was certainly an early inovator, and brought a great deal of pride to the small midwestern town that became his home and final resting place.
To this day, a small blue spruce is kept outside his tomb which is decorated and lit durring the Christmas season.
August emigrated to America from Germany, and started a small tailoring business in the small town of Wooster, Ohio. He became homesick as Christmas drew near, so he decided to bring a Bavarian tradition to his new home. According to legend he crossed the Little Apple Creek, cut down a small blue spruce, carried it back across the creek, and drew gazes from the locals as he dragged it through town. He then had a local tin smithe make him a star for the top, and decorated it for his family and friends with candies, paper ornaments, apples, candles, nuts and popcorn. The new tradiion quickly caught on, and spread throughout the area.
Overtime it has been proven that this was not only NOT the first Christmas tree in America, it wasn't even the first one in Ohio. However it is still believed that he was the first person to decorate his tree with candy canes. Either way, he was certainly an early inovator, and brought a great deal of pride to the small midwestern town that became his home and final resting place.
To this day, a small blue spruce is kept outside his tomb which is decorated and lit durring the Christmas season.
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