The real story of the Christmas tree
Issue date: 12/1/05 Section: Features
One story stands out as it tells of the first publicly displayed Christmas tree.
Heinrich Christian Schwan, a German born and educated Lutheran minister took his first office in Bahia, Brazil after his ordination in 1843.
He had made a promise to his uncle to take care of the needs of Lutherans in the United States and honoring that promise he answered a call to Black Jack, Missouri, in 1850.
Shortly after in 1851, Schwan transferred to Zion Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and it was he who placed the first Christmas tree in a German church on American soil that year.
His idea spread throughout the Midwest and then all over the United States.
"All German immigrants were poor and they could not afford a Christmas tree," said retired Lutheran Pastor Roger Eden, Pana, Illinois.
The Christmas tree was not an American thing but those nostalgic immigrants missed the tradition they were accustomed to at home.
So Pastor Schwan decided to put a tree in the church for all to enjoy. Before, Christmas trees were never seen in public places, but surprisingly the idea took hold and all churches, including other denominations, joined in."
Heinrich Christian Schwan, a German born and educated Lutheran minister took his first office in Bahia, Brazil after his ordination in 1843.
He had made a promise to his uncle to take care of the needs of Lutherans in the United States and honoring that promise he answered a call to Black Jack, Missouri, in 1850.
Shortly after in 1851, Schwan transferred to Zion Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and it was he who placed the first Christmas tree in a German church on American soil that year.
His idea spread throughout the Midwest and then all over the United States.
"All German immigrants were poor and they could not afford a Christmas tree," said retired Lutheran Pastor Roger Eden, Pana, Illinois.
The Christmas tree was not an American thing but those nostalgic immigrants missed the tradition they were accustomed to at home.
So Pastor Schwan decided to put a tree in the church for all to enjoy. Before, Christmas trees were never seen in public places, but surprisingly the idea took hold and all churches, including other denominations, joined in."