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Apple Day
"The rosy apple’s bobbing
Upon the mimic sea-
‘Tis tricksy and elusive,
And glides away from me."
~ “A Hallowe’en Wish,” R.K. Munkittrick, 1900
Fond of apples? 'Tis the season for apple picking, apple pies, caramel apples, apple fritters, apple brandy, and even traditional apple games during the harvest season. The spectrum of apple colours and varieties is reflected in this harvest time colourways of this beautiful tartan tribute to the apple tree. Autumn’s late harvest brings an abundance of apples in every shade, perfect not only for bobbing or baking into pies, but also for love divination games and traditions during the Halloween season! One such tradition involved sticking two apple seeds, each named after a potential lover, to your brow or eyelids; whichever seed stayed put was said to reveal the true love. Another custom had girls tossing apple peels over their shoulders, hoping they'd fall into the shape of their future husband’s initials. And for the bravest among them, a midnight ritual on Halloween involved sitting before a mirror, combing their hair, and eating an apple—hoping to catch a glimpse of their true love’s face reflected in the glass! ❤️ 💜 🤎 💚 🍎 🍏 🍎
Apple Day is a celebration of apples and orchards which traditionally falls on October 21, but is part of a month long celebration or large and small events, celebrating the great variety of apples.
This tartan, by designer Carol A.L. Martin, was inspired by her young apple tree's first yield of fruit.
During the Halloween season, many people remember playing the traditional game of Bobbing for Apples (also called Apple Ducking or Snap Apple). The game is played by filling a tub or a large basin with water and floating apples on top. Players then try to catch one with their teeth without using their hands.
Apple traditions date back to the Roman invasion of Britain, when Roman customs and beliefs about the apple as a symbol of fertility were merged with similar Celtic festivals and beliefs and became integrated into harvest festival games. Young unmarried people would try to bite into an apple floating in water or hanging from a string - the first person to bite into the apple would be the next one predicted to marry.
For more on other Halloween apple customs for romantic divination, click the apple tree.