A is for... (Part III)

Gee, I think this is a record - three posts in one day?  Unheard of!  Well, I hadn't planned to do my second PagBloPro today, but as I was contemplating my afternoon snack, I couldn't resist taking a picture of it - a beautiful juicy apple.

My yummy apple

As I was already talking about Avalon, it's only appropriate to talk about one of its most potent symbols - the apple.  

Avalon is said to come from the old Welsh word abal, although the modern Welsh word for apple is afal.  There is some debate that the name Avalon is also derived from other ancient Celtic languages or even Gaulish.  I leave that to the scholarly folks to debate, but there is some agreement that the name Avalon means "isle of apples".

Whether because the stories and legends are true, or because they're cashing in on the stories and legends, I can say that there are quite a few apple orchards in and around Glastonbury and throughout its county of Somerset.  In fact, Somerset is famous for its apples.  Head to any of the local pubs in town and cider tends to be the drink of choice.  Apple cider, apple vinegar, apple wine, apple juice - apples, apples, apples - they're everywhere ala Dr. Suess!

It does seem, however, that apples, all on their own, carry their own special magic.  The Norse goddess Idun gave apples to the gods so they may be forever young and youthful.  Apples feature in Greek myths of Atalanta and my beloved Aphrodite (who, of course, got Her apple!)  There is suggestion that apples were associated with the dead and the underworld when the phrase Apples of Hel turned up in an ancient poem.  They were the forbidden fruit that Eve offered to Adam (or so some say).  Apples turn up in fairy tales a lot as well (always magical in some way).

More often, though, the apple is considered a potent symbol of fertility and love.  Certainly this is how we work with the apple in the Avalon tradition I follow.  We feast on apples from the autumn equinox time when they become ripe and are harvested.  We bob for apples at Samhain (a game said to be associated with the Roman goddess Pomona) and then cut the apples through the middle to reveal the five pointed star within.  After eating, we plant the seeds as our seeds of intention for the coming year.  As the seeds grow and blossom, so do our intentions.

I can't say that apples are my favourite fruit, but I cannot deny their special symbolism and association with Avalon, so when the mood takes me, I imbibe and enjoy.  Which is exactly what I did the moment after taking the above picture, and it was as yummy and juicy as it looked!