Everything You Need to Know About Apple Day on October 21st
Apple Day on October 21st is the perfect time to bite into a juicy apple and celebrate the bounty of the fall harvest. Enjoy apples in festive ways by attending an Apple Day event, baking apple treats, trying apple recipes, or simply munching on the season’s tastiest fruit.
Quick Facts About Apple Day:
When is Apple Day celebrated?
Every October 21st under the theme:
Healthy Body, Food, Drink, Fruit
What are the hashtags?
#apple
#NationalAppleDay
From Braeburn and Discovery to Red Jonagold and Pink Lady, there are a million apple varieties with a million different names and each one more delicious than the last!
Fun Facts About the Ancient Apple Tree
South Hams Devon 1871
Each year, the glorious orchards yield a string of crimson, gold, and green apples that are not just the leaves of autumn. In the wake of this rolling bounty comes the rich scent of apple pies, mulled cider, and all the tastes and smells of this seasonal treat.
This is the perfect time to celebrate all things Apple Day!
History of Apple Day
Every year, people across parts of the world gather to celebrate the most delicious crop of the year and come together to share joy and revelry with apples. Events range in size from small fairs to full-on village fetes across the country, where enthusiasts gather to share cider and apple juice recipes, offer advice on properly growing apples, and provide info on all the apple varieties available.
The first Apple Day event was officially held in 1990 at Covent Garden and the national Apple Day has been celebrated annually since then. It has evolved from a local event to one celebrated globally.
It has grown from just an Apple Day celebration to a recognition of the cultural and genetic diversity in food that should not be allowed to pass from the world.
Celebrating World Apple Day
Apples can be eaten and enjoyed not just on Apple Day but every day. After all, as the old saying goes: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
How to Celebrate National Apple Day
Getting involved in celebrating National Apple Day can be simple and fun! Try some of these ideas to enjoy your day, either alone or with a big group:
- Have an Apple Meal
A great way to start off Apple Day celebrations is by eating one of the delicious apple varieties. Yellow, green, pink or red - a fresh, crisp apple can be sliced raw, cut into wedges, or simply take a giant bite from the core. Eat it plain or dip it into something sweet like peanut butter with granola, nutella, caramel sauce, or yummy cheese dips.
Slice an apple onto a sandwich, dice it up and sauté it for apple sauce or apple butter, wrap it into muffins and bake, or chop it up to put in some pies. However you eat it, anyone can find a way to appreciate this tasty fruit on Apple Day!
- Join an Apple Day Event
Check out Apple Day events happening around the city or local area. Join several and enjoy the unique varieties growing in orchards near where you live.
Although National Apple Day traditionally falls on October 21st, events are expected to run all month long celebrating apples. Take an apple orchard tour or go apple picking most weekends. With hundreds of events just in the UK alone, and many more globally, there is sure to be some apple fun in October for everyone to enjoy!
- Try Some New Apple Recipes
Apples are great for more than just pies, chips, and cobblers! An extremely versatile fruit, apples can be made into a variety of dishes. They can be sweet or savory, and used in salads, baked goods, and even main dishes. Enjoy using apples in all kinds of unique recipes and start with some of these ideas:
- Sweet Potato and Apple Latkes and Apple Fritter Pie
- Take potato pancakes to a new level by swapping in healthy sweet potatoes and delicious apples. Plus, add a tang by drizzling a bit of buttermilk sauce on top.
- Chickpea “Bacon” Apple Burger Vegan. Miss the need for meat to make a tasty burger – with apples and chickpea grains, vegans and vegetarians can get excited for barbecues too!
- Quinoa, Apple, and Cheese Soup
Apples and cheese have been a classic combination for generations. Adding some quinoa gives even more heartiness to this sweet, comforting fall soup.
- Apple Fries with Caramel Cheesecake Sauce
Looking for a unique way to make fries more exciting? Try them with apples! After frying apple slices directly, dip them in a cinnamon sugar mix and serve with a caramel cheese sauce.
- Host a National Apple Day Event
You can also host a National Apple Day event for friends, family, and neighbors, encouraging people to try new apple recipes and varieties. Make sure to treat your guests to specialty hard cider being fermented at nearby orchards, apple-themed treats from local bakeries. At its heart and soul, National Apple Day supports the genetic diversity of apple orchards not consumed by monoculture agriculture.
- Take Part in an Apple Wassail
Another way to celebrate National Apple Day is to take part in an Apple Wassail, a traditional form of this ancient practice that is often carried out as part of Apple Day celebrations.
As part of this practice, toast is placed on the roots of trees which are then doused with apple cider. This practice is said to bless the trees and ensure a good harvest.
Get out and enjoy National Apple Day and the fruits of the season!
