It may be sour, partially sour, sweet, refreshing, round, pointy, flat, red, yellow, green, smooth, shiny, rough, early, mid-early, late … Of course – the apple, one of the most cultivated fruits. Only in Serbia there are about 15 million apple trees. Some of its varieties are: Golden Delicious Jonathan, Idared, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, or some of the domestic varieties – Budimkа, Thick Peel, Pеtrоvаčа, kоlаčаrа (cake apple), đulа, …
The apple is rich in carbohydrates, fructose and glucose, so it brings energy, prevent fatigue and loss of concentration – it is good when one has to study long, refreshing after a hard sports training, brightens the mood and has calming effect. Owing to its vitamin C content, prevents from cold, while the fluoride content keeps your teeth healthy. But regardless of everything – it is tasty!
LANGUAGE
The apple is also related to a Partisan boy, a bomber, Bоško Buha and the Apple of Banat, the Red Apple Field, apple brandy and, not to be forgotten, the winged horse, Јаbučilо.
RELIGION AND TRADITION
The apple was a part of the old wedding tradition – the bride’s father places an apple in a tree, and the groom cannot take her away unless he hits the apple; also the bride tosses an apple over the house and the young man to catch it, will be the next to marry – a Serbian version of tossing a bridal bouquet.
ART
The Golden Apple and the Nine Peahens (Zlаtnа јаbukа i dеvеt pаunicа), a fairy tale; The Apple and the Wind (Јаbukа i vјеtаr), a folk lyrical song.
GEOGRAPHY
It used to be a custom in Serbia to plant apple trees along the roads for the travellers to refresh themselves.
HISTORY
The domestic apple is native to Central Asia. As those regions were the roads connecting China, Middle East and Europe, it was probably the travellers who brought the apple to Europe. There are archaeological specimens of apples from Anatolia (Turkey), some 8,500 years old.