Christkindel, Pomme de Noël
The Christkindel Apple, also known as Christmas Apples, Santa Klaus or Saint Nicolas’ apple, is a traditional variety from the Alsace region. The peel is a dark red color, but there is another variety that is even darker, almost black, known as “Christkindel de Gambsheim” or “Gambsheimer” or simply “Gambsler”.
This apple’s peel is covered with a blue coating that disappears when the apple is washed, leaving the peel shiny. The pulp is white and sometimes has red veins; it is crunchy, tart and fragrant. These apples can be conserved from December until February.
In the 11th century, members of the Catholic Church traditionally held representations of scenes known as “Mysteries” during Advent, including one in Heaven, which was one of the most popular. A fir tree decorated with red apples stood for the “Tree of Paradise”, while each fruit represented one of Adam and Eve’s sins.
Over the course of the 15th century, the faithful began taking these fir trees inside their houses on the 24th of December, which is the feast day of Adam and Eve. The fir tree, or “Christmas Tree”, or even “Christ Tree”, is mentioned for the first time in Alsace in the Basil region in 1521, without any mention, however, of decorations. Just like in the “Mysteries” put on during Christmas Eve on the banks of the Rhine, this tree came to symbolize the Tree of Eden and it has always been decorated with red Christkindel apples.
This apple was thus used quite frequently in Alsace beginning in the 17th century to decorate Christmas trees, before the arrival of glass balls: legend has it that in 1850, due to shortage of apples linked to drought, some artisans had the idea of creating stand-ins for the apples using blown glass, thus creating the Christmas decorations that we still use today.
This apple is found today only in the apple orchards of small-scale producers, and is impossible to find in markets. Those who grow this variety use it only for decoration or for personal consumption.
La Christkindel, appelée également Pomme de Noël, Santa Klaus ou Pomme Saint Nicolas, est une variété de pomme traditionnelle originaire d’Alsace, à l’épiderme rouge foncé, grenat. Il existe un type très foncé presque noir appellé "Christkindel de Gambsheim" ou "Gambsheimer" ou "Gambsler". L'épiderme est recouvert d'une pruine bleuâtre qui disparaît quand on la frotte, laissant apparaître un épiderme luisant. La chair est blanche, croquante quelquefois veinée de rouge, acidulée, légèrement parfumée. La période de conservation s'étend de décembre à février.
Au XIe siècle, les fidèles de l’Eglise Catholique ont coutume pendant la période de l'Avent de présenter des scènes appelées Mystères, dont celle du Paradis, fort populaire. Garni de pommes rouges, un sapin symbolise alors l'arbre du Paradis. Chaque fruit rouge suspendu sur l'arbre représente un pêché d’Adam et d’Eve.
Au cours du XVe siècle, les fidèles commencent à installer le sapin dans leurs maisons, le 24 décembre, jour de la fête d'Adam et Ève. Jusqu’à présent, on décorait les maisons avec des branches coupées 3 jours avant Noël. C'est en 1521 que le sapin ou « arbre de Noël » ou encore « arbre du Christ » est mentionné pour la première fois en Alsace et dans la région de Bâle, mais il est encore sans lumières. Il représente l'Arbre d'Eden comme dans les Mystères joués la veille de Noël sur les bords du Rhin, et on attache toujours des pommes à ses branches pour le décorer.
Cette pomme a donc été utilisée largement en Alsace, à partir du XVII siècle, pour la décoration des sapins de Noël avant l'arrivée des boules en verre. En effet, La légende raconte qu’une sécheresse ayant provoqué une pénurie de pommes vers les années 1850, a donné l’idée à des verriers de créer des pommes en verre soufflé, qui sont devenues nos fameuses boules de noël par la suite.
On ne trouve cette pomme que dans les vergers des particuliers, et elle n’est plus en vente sur les marchés. Ceux qui la cultivent le font pour les décorations de Noël et l’autoconsommation.
I'm an enthusiast with a deep understanding of the historical and cultural aspects of Christmas traditions, particularly those rooted in the Alsace region. My knowledge spans the evolution of holiday practices, from the 11th century Catholic Church's Mysteries to the 17th-century use of Christkindel apples in Christmas tree decorations.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Christkindel Apple (Pomme de Noël):
- Originating from Alsace, this traditional apple has a dark red peel, and there's a variant called "Christkindel de Gambsheim" that is nearly black.
- The peel has a blue coating that disappears when washed, revealing a shiny surface.
- The pulp is white, sometimes veined with red, and is described as crunchy, tart, and fragrant.
- These apples can be stored from December to February.
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Christmas Tree Tradition:
- In the 11th century, the Catholic Church held "Mysteries" during Advent, including one representing scenes in Heaven.
- A fir tree decorated with red apples symbolized the "Tree of Paradise" in these scenes.
- By the 15th century, people began bringing fir trees inside on December 24th, the feast day of Adam and Eve.
- The fir tree, or "Christmas Tree," started being mentioned in Alsace in 1521, representing the Tree of Eden and adorned with red Christkindel apples.
- The Christmas tree tradition evolved from representing religious scenes to becoming a symbol of the holiday season.
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Evolution of Christmas Decorations:
- Before the 17th century, houses were decorated with branches cut three days before Christmas.
- In Alsace, starting from the 17th century, Christkindel apples were commonly used to decorate Christmas trees.
- A shift occurred in the mid-19th century (around 1850) when a drought caused a shortage of apples. Artisans then crafted glass substitutes, leading to the creation of Christmas decorations as we know them today.
- This transition marked the shift from natural elements like apples to the introduction of glass ornaments.
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Current Status of Christkindel Apple:
- The Christkindel apple is now found only in the orchards of small-scale producers and is not available in markets.
- Those who cultivate this apple use it for decoration or personal consumption, highlighting its symbolic value in Christmas traditions.
This comprehensive overview showcases the evolution of Christmas traditions, the significance of Christkindel apples, and the transition from natural to glass decorations in Alsace.
