Fruits and Berries in Christmas Folklore
Some fruits or berries are famously associated with Christmas, like the holly berry or the white berry of the mistletoe. But let’s dive into three that aren’t as commonly connected to Christmas: apples, cherries, and cowberries.
Apples
There’s a surprising connection between Christmas and apples. For example, the carol “Jesus Christ The Apple Tree,” recorded in 1784, refers to Christ as an apple tree. At first glance, it seems odd to link Christ with an apple tree, especially since apples aren’t in season in the northern hemisphere during Christmas. However, this connection is rooted in the idea of the apple tree as the Tree of Life, which comes from Celtic mythology. Avalon, often referred to as the Island of Apples, reinforces this link.
This association might also explain why English-speaking countries refer to the fruit in the Garden of Eden as an apple, despite the Bible only mentioning it as the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. In medieval times, there was even a notion called the “Fortunate Fall,” suggesting that if Adam hadn’t taken the apple, Christ wouldn’t have come, and mankind would’ve missed out on greater glories. This idea is reflected in some ancient Annunciation pictures, where Adam and Eve are seen in the background, anticipating their restoration.
Another tradition that connects apples to Christmas is Wassailing the Apple Tree. This old custom from cider-growing regions of England involves waking up the tree spirits to ensure a good crop for the next year. Families would visit the orchards, shootguns to scare away evil spirits, sing to encourage the trees, and place cider-soaked bread in the branches. These customs symbolize a hope for the return of spring and summer, tying the apple tree to themes of rebirth and renewal during Christmas.
Cherries
While wassailing the apple trees expresses hope for future fruitfulness, some legends speak of unseasonal blooming during Christmas. One famous tale is the medieval romance of Sir Cleges, where a knight finds his cherry tree blooming on Christmas Day, symbolizing unexpected blessings and restoration.
Unseasonal fruiting can also carry symbolic meaning, as seen in “The Cherry Tree Carol.” This story tells of Mary, pregnant with Jesus, asking for cherries. Joseph, doubting her fidelity, challenges her to let the father of her child pick the cherries. Miraculously, the cherry tree bends down to give Mary its fruit, prompting Joseph to repent. This act of the cherry tree bending is often seen as a metaphor for Mary’s miraculous pregnancy.
Cowberries
The story of cowberries comes from the Finnish national epic, The Kalevala. In one tale, a young girl named Marjatta eats a cowberry that makes her pregnant. She later gives birth to a child referred to as her “little golden apple,” who signifies a greater power than the ancient water god Väinämöinen. This story wonderfully blends pagan and Christian elements, portraying Christmas as rooted in both old and new traditions.
Thus, Christmas folklore is rich with stories involving various fruits and berries, each symbolizing themes of restoration, miraculous events, and the deep connection between old traditions and new beliefs.
