Apple Symbolism, Language and Myth

The story: According to Genesis, God gave Adam and Eve a perfect life in the Garden of Eden. They were cast out of the Garden of Eden for partaking in the forbidden fruit that hung on the Tree of Knowledge. They gave up their immortality, and are considered to be the origin of sin.

Popular belief: Though not recorded in the Book of Genesis, it is popular belief that the forbidden fruit was an apple. Popular belief today may have been influenced by renaissance painters who often depicted elements of Greek myth, including the apple, into their biblical paintings.

Apple representation: From the story of Adam and Eve apples become symbolic for knowledge, temptation and the root of all sin.

In Eden, the serpent tempted Eve to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. She did, and God threw her and Adam out of the garden for it, setting into motion the history of the word. But in acquiring that knowledge Eve did something more. In that single rebellious Aquarian act, she gave birth to a quality far more precious than safety, far more precious even than wisdom. She gave birth to human freedom.

- The Inner Sky: The Dynamic New Astrology for Everyone, by Steven Forrest

The Story: Eris, the goddess of Discord, upset that she had not been invited to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis decided to retaliate for the slight. She tossed a golden apple into the reception with the inscription for the most beautiful one. Three Goddesses saw themselves as most beautiful and claimed the golden apple for themselves. These goddesses were Hera, Athena and Aphrodite. Paris of Troy was selected to pick the recipient of the golden apple. He chose Aphrodite which indirectly cause the Trojan War.

Apple Representation: In Greek myth apples became the symbol of Aphrodite the goddess of love. In greek culture throwing an apple at someone meant a declaration of love. If you caught the apple it was seen as an acceptance of the love thrown your way.

Photo credit: Alvimann from morguefile.com

Bobbing for apples is a game mainly played with children on Halloween. A bunch of apples are put in a basin filled with water. The children try to pull out an apple with only their teeth. No hands allowed.

The current version of Bobbing for Apples came is spun out of a New Years tradition that states who ever bites the apple first will be the first to marry. The throwing of apples at the wedding party evolved from this tradition, and transformed into the throwing of rice.

Because of our germaphobic culture the tradition of apple bobbing is on the decline. It has been said not to be sanitary; hence, the movement towards stringing the apples up on separate strings instead of placing them in a bucket of water.

Adam Apple: It refers to the bulge in the neck of a male. It was thought the bulge was caused by a piece of apple, the forbidden fruit, getting lodged in Adam's throat.

Don't upset the apple cart: It an expression referring to someone who interrupts tradition.

One bad apple ruins the barrel: This expression coined by Chaucer means that one person could corrupt a group of otherwise normal people. One bad apple is thought to spread disease to the rest.

Apple Polisher: Kids gave their teacher's apples in hopes of currying favor with the teacher. The term apple polisher means teachers pet or someone who is striving to influence others.

How do you like them apples?: Usually spoken in anger or in retaliation to some one's comment.

Apple of my eye: A term of endearment for a treasure person. The physical apple of one's eye is the pupil.

Big Apple: New York City is called the Big Apple because in the 1940's it was though there were a lot of apples on the tree or places to listen to Jazz music.

As American as apple pie: In the 19th and 20th century it became the symbol for American prosperity and values.

Upper Crust:To save on lard and flour people began baking their apple pies with just one crust. If you could afford both the top and the bottom crust for you apple pies you were considered to be the Upper Crust in society. That is to say, you were financially well off.

Why not upset the apple cart?
If you don't the apples will rot anyway.

- Frank Howard Clark

"I hope your apple pie is freakin' worth it!"

"So what are you gonna do? Just live some normal, apple pie life?"

- Dean Winchester, Supernatural