Why Do We Eat Apples and Honey? Plus a Sweet New Year Smoothie

Apples dipped in honey are, at least among Ashkenazi Jews, by far the most common symbol of Rosh Hashanah. What would Rosh Hashanah dinner be without the customary pre-meal dip and accompanying wish for a sweet new year, with the recitation of the phrase “May it be Your will to renew on us a good and sweet year”?

But have you ever wondered why that is? Sure, an apple dipped in the sticky stuff makes for a sweet taste sensation. But so do plenty of other things.

The idea of eating symbolic foods—especially, but not exclusively, sweet ones—on Rosh Hashanah dates back to the Talmud. The custom of wishing people “Shana tova umetukah” (a good and sweet year) dates back to at least the 7th century, and honey was the go-to sweetener back in the day—there was no cane sugar in ancient Israel.

It’s worth noting, though, that the most common sweetener of all in biblical times was not bee honey (though that was also around) but date honey, or silan. Many scholars think that the biblical description of Israel as a land flowing with “milk and honey” refers to the date syrup—good to keep in mind, especially for the vegans out there!

In any case, sweet stuff has been eaten on Rosh Hashanah for a long time, but the apples and honey combo is a relative latecomer. According to food historian Gil Marks, the first recorded association of apples with Rosh Hashanah didn’t come about until around 1100, in the Machzor Vitry, which included the following explanation, hinting at the fact that apple season hits around the same time as Rosh Hashanah in Europe: “The residents of France have the custom to eat on Rosh Hashanah red apples. Every thing new and bright and good for a good sign for all Israel.”

According to Patti Shosteck in A Lexicon of Jewish Cooking, in medieval Europe apples were treasured, so much so that “individuals would use a sharp utensil or their nails to hand-carve their personal hopes and prayers into the apple skins before they were eaten.” So weird, right?! I love learning about cool under-the-radar folklore customs like that.

The association of apples as a symbol of the Jewish people in relationship to God in the Song of Songs may also have played a role: “As the apple is rare and unique among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved [Israel] amongst the maidens [nations] of the world.” Likewise, the Zohar, a mystical text composed in 13th-century Spain, uses an apple orchard as a symbol of divine presence.

The first mention of dipping apples in honey, though, doesn’t come until Rabbi Jacob ben Asher’s Arbah Turim (c. 1310). The rabbi, who was born in Germany around 1269 and fled with his family to Spain in 1303, cited the custom as a German tradition. Another 14th-century German rabbi, Alexander Susslein of Frankfort, likewise mentioned the custom in his Sefer Agudah as being a widespread practice among German Jews.

So there you go. After that somewhat convoluted history, I bring you a super simple recipe for a nutritious breakfast that’s sure to get you in the holiday spirit: an apples and honey smoothie! I always feel like holiday breakfasts don’t get the attention they deserve, and I love experimenting with new smoothie combinations, so I figured why not try to theme some around the holidays? I’ve got a great lineup coming at you over the next year; this is just the first.

Apples and Honey Smoothie

Provides 1 very large serving, or 2 medium-sized ones

1 apple, cored and chopped

1 frozen banana

1 cup soy or almond milk (or other milk of choice)

2 teaspoons honey or silan (date honey)

3 tablespoons rolled oats

Sprinkle of cinnamon

1 tablespoon chia seeds, optional

Combine all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth. Drink cold. That’s it!

Sources:  Encyclopedia of Jewish Food (Gil Marks, 2010); “Why Apples and Honey?” ReformJudaism.org (Tina Wasserman)

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