In the myths around the world, apples are symbols of choices and the giving of love. In many stories, people chose between innocence and knowledge. Furthermore, they must decide between the beauty of life and the beauty of youthfulness. Often times, people use apples as a symbol of love. Bobbing for apples was a folk custom to discover who your suitor would be.
In North America, the native apple tree is the crab apple tree. The fruit bearing varieties of orchards are from Eurasian trees brought over by early. However both species of tree are member of the rose family. Wild apple trees have thorns similar to roses.
Although apples stood for choice in myths, people used apples for medicine. Applesauce is easy to digest, and is often given to sick children. Even today, apples are used for diets of people with internal disorders, such as constipation. The saying of “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” has a basis in folk medicine and in fact. Apples contain much nutrition, aid in the digestion, and provide for tooth health.
From “Celtic Messages” by Joules Taylor: “The apple has long been regarded as a magical fruit, the fruit of gods, gifting the eater with immortality.”
From “Nature-Speak” by Ted Andrews: “The apple is a tree that awakens true desires of the heart.”
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Picture of "Oak Tree" copyrighted by Mary Ann Sterling
Va. Carper
February 26, 2008