This is only one of many examples of how apples have been used as a symbol of love over the centuries. In ancient Greece it was said that if a man threw an apple to a maiden, it was his declaration of love to her and if she caught it, or at least attempted to, then his love was reciprocated. It was also believed that the apple was a symbol of abundance and fertility and so it was customary on the wedding night for the bride to eat an apple ensuring sexual desire, fertility to birth children and abundance within the marriage. Apples are often associated with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, this may well have been because Paris decided to give her the golden apple in exchange for the love of the most beautiful woman in the world. Because of this exchange, apples have taken up the mantle of being the symbol of love and desire. Finally, although not necessarily a gesture of love but more of appreciation, a shiny red apple was often given by students to their favourite teachers.
65
Allantide was a Celtic festival held on the 31st October, one of the most important parts of the festival would be the giving and receiving of Allan apples, large glossy highly polished red apples. For those that were unmarried, these shiny apples would be placed under their pillows every night, as it was believed that it would make you dream about who your future wife or husband would be.
