WOOSTER, Ohio — The history of Christmas trees stretches back to the 16th century. Germany is credited with starting the tradition as we know it, with Christians bringing decorated pines into their homes.
But how did the tradition start in America? Well, it depends on who you ask.
Many communities across the Northeast lay claim to being the first, though it is largely tied to those with deep German roots.
Among those towns and cities? Wooster in Wayne County has its own stake in the claim. To learn more about its origin story, we travelled 60 miles south to Wooster's Main Street and its general store.
We've come to chat with Ray Leisy, who spins the story of one of the townfolk, August Imgard, who is credit with maybe the first Christmas tree in America.
"He was lonesome for his German tradition of having Christmas trees," Leisy said, beginning his explanation.
The year was 1847, when German immigrant August Imgard went into the forest of Wooster, cut down an evergreen, and lugged it home. Wooster had never seen such a way to celebrate Christmas.
"I don't think they did a lot of celebrating," Leisy explained. "The English were a little more centered on the one day of Christmas."
The story has it that Imgard pushed the way of local observation aside. Even his German-born brother had doubts about a tree being brought inside the house.
"Even against his brother's wishes," Leisy added, "because they were trying to look like they weren't German, I suppose, and maybe trying to fit in with the town."
But as Leisy continued to tell us, August would not be denied. He decorated his tree with colored ribbons and glitter. Imgard's family need not worry, because Wooster residents saw the tree and wanted their own, too.
The idea caught on in town, and from Wooster, it spread. That's the way Ray Leisy heard about it.
Today, Leisy is president of the Wayne County Historical Society, which chronicles the past. But in our first Christmas tree research, we found there was competition. Years later, August Imgard learned he may not have been the first, as there was a fellow in Cincinnati who had the same idea.
Most assuredly, old August Imgard was at least second, but let us not quibble over first or second.
"He was quite a guy to do this," Leisy said of his appreciation for August.
Outside the old 1847 Imgard home, Ray showed us a tree that is part of Wooster's celebration. By the way, Imgard was the first to put candy canes on a tree, though in his day the candy was not striped.
Where they buried August in Wooster, the folks planted a tree. Each time this year, it is decorated for the season, in tribute to Imgard.
Today, whether our thoughts are in the past or in the present, Christmas trees speak a silent spirit. "O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, you stand in splendid beauty."
Merry Christmas.