Well, traditionally apples have been part of the Christmas decoration, at least in Germany, where I grew up. The typical vintage Christmas tree would include apple ornaments. And then there are the baked apples, of course. But those can be eaten any time in the winter, they’re not really a Christmas specific treat. But if you look for apples on modernly decorated Christmas trees, you’ll look in vain.

Here, on the other hand, a Christmas without apples can’t be a real Christmas, as I was sternly reminded by one of my students on Christmas Eve who insisted I had to eat the apple he gave me that night. The apple farmers in China surely will stress the fact that apples belong to Christmas like a white beard to Santa Clause. After all, they’re making a ton of extra business, producing apples that have grown ripe with pictures on them, or season’s greetings. And those special Christmas apples, of course, sell for special prices that most of all make those apple farmers happy. But I’m sure, it also makes the students happy who are convinced that they are truly doing the right thing when eating Christmas apples on Christmas. Apples and Christmas Eve, after all, when written in Chinese characters, have one character in common: the character that stands for peace!

In that sense, I wish peace to everyone! And don’t forget to eat your apple today!