Apple tree was considered a sacred tree in many cultures. It was particularly important for the Celts, who inhabited the areas of present-day Ireland and Great Britain. The tree was widely respected among them and any person cutting down an apple tree could have been sentenced to death. The Celtic paradise – the place where the souls of righteous rulers and brave warriors found their eternal rest – was believed to have been full of apple trees. According to the old Celtic beliefs, a large apple tree, which was covered by leaves, flowers and fruits, was growing in the central points of the paradise. Avalon – the name of the mythical paradise – most probably derived from the old-Irish word “aball”, which meant “apple”.
