Oranges are most likely to come to mind first when we think of Christmas fruit – the winter citrus is a traditional addition to hanging stockings. But gourmet apples make a regular appearance in Christmas gift baskets, and no wonder – in some parts of the world, apples have long been an integral part of holiday festivities. Here’s how:
Apples as Decorations
Decorating evergreens pre-dates Christmas, when people found whatever they could to bring color to festivals taking place during the dreary winter months. Easy ways to do this included decorating evergreen trees, wreaths and hangings with candles, fruits and nuts. The round, colorful fall/early winter apples contrasted nicely with the deep green of the evergreen boughs, and it was this “look” that may have inspired our round, modern tree ornaments.
Even today, receiving an apple fruit box just before Christmas can serve as an opportunity to add to your festive décor. Use them to add a shiny flash of scarlet to your holiday greens, or place them in a bowl with sprigs of holly to serve as a centerpiece and easy, healthy snack besides!
Apples as Stocking Stuffers
Oranges may be the quintessential stocking stuffer, but that wasn’t always – or only – the case. A crisp Fuji apple was just as likely to make an appearance instead of, or along with, a juicy orange. During times when fresh fruit was harder to come by in some areas during the winter months, a sweet apple was as welcome a treat as candy in a Christmas stocking!
Apples as a Romantic Gesture
In many Eastern European cultures, you men would send apples as a gift to the object of their affections at the Yuletide. (Perhaps this where the expression, “Apple of his eye” came from!) Receiving an apples gift from one’s intended was a serious declaration of love in times past!
Apples as Christmas Gifts in China
While Christmas is not widely celebrated in China, those who do have recently developed the tradition of exchanging “peace apples” on Christmas Even. Peace apples are regular, individual apples packaged in a special box or wrapped in colored paper; some have messages like “Merry Christmas” stenciled on them. This may stem from the similarity of the Mandarin word for apple (pingguo) to the word for Christmas Eve (pinganye). Young men in particular may wrap an apple gift box intended for a girlfriend in paper decorated with hearts as well as Christmas symbols. Because of apples’ low price, it makes for an affordable gift, too.
Apples for Hanukkah
Apples play an important part in a number of Jewish holiday celebrations. Applesauce has long been a delicious accompaniment to the traditional potato pancakes, or “latkes” served during Hanukkah. During the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashanah, celebrants dip slices of apple into honey to signify a sweet, fruitful new year.
Apples as Gifts
Sending a beautifully presented apple gift basket containing other fruits and treats is a convenient yet thoughtful gift option that is sure to be appreciated! The assortment of items inside a gift basket is sure to have something for everyone, and it can be shared with the whole family to make your thoughtfulness go even further. They’re a great choice for everyone on your list!
Other Articles You May Find Interesting:
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Can Apples Help You Lose Weight?
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FAQs
In the 11th century, members of the Catholic Church traditionally held representations of scenes known as “Mysteries” during Advent, including one in Heaven, which was one of the most popular. A fir tree decorated with red apples stood for the “Tree of Paradise”, while each fruit represented one of Adam and Eve's sins.
Why are apples available all year round? ›
Available Year 'Round
Apples not intended for fresh market are stored at low temperatures, with low levels of oxygen and high levels of carbon dioxide.
Why are apples in stockings? ›
Apples as Stocking Stuffers
A crisp Fuji apple was just as likely to make an appearance instead of, or along with, a juicy orange. During times when fresh fruit was harder to come by in some areas during the winter months, a sweet apple was as welcome a treat as candy in a Christmas stocking!
Why are apples red? ›
One of the most common anthocyanin pigments is cyanidin, which, in the form of cyanidin 3-O-galactoside, is the pigment primarily responsible for red colouration in apple skin (Lancaster, 1992; Tsao et al., 2003).
What fruit is most associated with Christmas? ›
One theory behind the tradition of oranges in the stocking stems from the generosity of Saint Nicholas (also known as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle and Old Saint Nick), who was the son of a wealthy merchant and later in life a bishop.
What does the apple represent on Christmas tree? ›
In such plays, a tree decorated with apples (representing fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and thus to the original sin that Christ took away) and round white wafers (to represent the Eucharist and redemption) was used as a setting for the play.
Why are stockings associated with Christmas? ›
The girls were saved from their sad fate. Other versions of the story say that Saint Nicholas threw the three bags of gold directly into the stockings, which were hung by the fireplace to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from St Nicholas.
What fruit is traditionally left in Christmas stockings? ›
You can eschew the mall madness in favor of sticking a humble orange in your Christmas hosiery. The orange became part of Christmastime tradition in the 19th century, in concert with the rise of hanging stockings near the fire.
What is the symbol of stockings at Christmas? ›
Christmas stockings
Wanting to help, Nicholas threw three balls crafted from gold through an open window, one landing in each of the girls' stockings as they hung by the fire to dry. This thoughtful gift allowed the women to get married and the stockings became a holiday tradition symbolizing the importance of service.
Do white apples exist? ›
A new unique apple variety from Zaiger Genetics, Ghost apple is in a category by itself. These white skinned, white flesh apples have a sweet sub-acid flavor.
RAINBOW was thought to have become extinct, but Carlos Manning discovered this tree in a small town near his home. According to Lee Calhoun, it was a Missouri apple sold by Stark Bros. Nursery around 1900, and was listed by a Virginia nursery from 1898 to 1901 as a dessert apple.
Why can't you buy red apples anymore? ›
People craved crispier, juicier, sweeter and tarter apples — qualities the Red Delicious failed (and continues to fail) to deliver. Today, the apples are still grown in large amounts mainly because it's difficult and incredibly costly for Red Delicious farmers to switch over to a different variety.
Why do we eat apples at Christmas Eve? ›
It's tradition to eat an apple on Christmas Eve
The apples are also often sold with printed messages like 'love', 'peace' and 'Merry Christmas'. This tradition evolved because 'Christmas Eve' translates into Mandarin as “ping'an ye”, which means 'peaceful night'.
Why do people give apples and oranges at Christmas? ›
The holiday tradition may have started during the Great Depression, a time when many families couldn't afford to buy holidays presents and gifted these sweet and hard-to-come-by fruits instead, according to the Kitchn. Waking up on Christmas morning and finding a fresh orange in your stocking was considered a luxury.
What does the apple symbolize in Christianity? ›
As a result, the apple became a symbol for knowledge, immortality, temptation, the fall of man and sin. According to the Bible, there is nothing to show the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge was necessarily an apple.
Is apple a Christmas fruit? ›
Over just the past 10 years, apples have emerged as a Chinese Christmas icon: exquisitely wrapped fruit with images of Santa Claus and stenciled “Merry Christmas” greetings in cursive.
