Happy apples
(Apples treated to display messages: Suzhou, China)
Yesterday in the supermarket, I was carefully choosing fruit to bring back for Ying as he’s contracted a touch of flu. I’d already chosen three large apples, shiny and sparkling with droplets of water from a recent spray. Since the heat here affects the fruit, people come round with a water spray bottle and give them all a light shower every now and then. I turned and a brand new novelty met my eyes and I was powerless to resist their distinctly silly appeal.
These are the two ‘designs’ I chose to bring back; there were so many others with Chinese characters and jolly bearded men like the one you can see here. Ying told me this one is for wealth and I know there are another two for health and happiness somewhere in the fruit section. Since the apple doesn’t appear to have been modified, one can only assume some form of stencil prevented sunlight turning the apple red. The “I love you” apple has to appear in my top ten list of most ridiculous gifts to bring a loved one. Perhaps I can compile one of Chinese giftware that has little or no purpose, of which there appears to be much. I would like to add that Ying was ill, so he may be forgiven for thinking this was actually a wonderful present at the time.
(Only joking.)
wow! what a crazy idea. Ive heard of picture toast, but i quite like these.