The apple star story was previously part of a bigger post: Autumn Nature Table and Equinox Celebrations with Children. The post got a little large, so I’ve separated out the story and you will find it here below.
Seasonal Stories
We are a family of bookworms. Floss adores stories, non-fiction texts, oral story telling and poetry. One of my favourite Autumnal (we’re in the Northern hemisphere) stories is of how the apple got its beautiful star. It’s a wonderful story that I’d recommend learning off by heart so that you can orally tell the story.
Here’s the short synopsis, I’ve put the longer version in italics further below.
The Apple Story Synopsis
The story tells of a little apple sapling that wants to touch the stars and can’t reach. A star fairy sees the sapling and asks why he’s so sad. The fairy promises to return with a star for the tree, but explains it might take a little time as they are far away. The apple tree continues to grow and when the fairy returns the tree is full of apples and there are no room for the stars. The fairy says she will put a star in each apple.
The apple star story is now available as an audio download. This is perfect for using on your Yoto Players, Yoto Minis and Tonieboxes.
Apple Star Oral Storytelling
Over the last couple of years of telling my daughter the traditional Waldorf story of how the little apple got its beautiful star it’s evolved each time. That’s what I love about oral story telling, they are never told the same way twice, each having its own uniqueness. We originally found the story here – Apple Story.
This version below is what my daughter and I shared together. I’ve recently added an audio version of the story that you can download. I have other audio stories available in the freebies area.
Our Apple Story
Once upon a time, in our beautiful land there was a tiny little apple sapling. A very kind apple fairy looked after the apple sapling making sure it had all the nourishment it needed. The little sapling, with the help of the fairy, grew and grew. Each night, as a dark blanket enclosed the world, the little sapling and apple fairy looked up at the twinkling stars and wished so much to be able to reach out and touch them. The little sapling grew and grew into a wonderful, gentle tree. Yet, the apple tree and her fairy had a sadness that would not go away, they longed to be able to touch the wonderful stars that brighten their world on the dark nights.
The star fairy felt their sadness and came down to visit the apple tree in Winter. She asked the apple tree and apple fairy why they were so sad. They said that no matter how much they grew they just could not make their one wish come to true, to be able to touch the stars. The little star fairy smiled and gently said to them both that she would return with stars for them. However, she explained that the stars were a long way away and that they needed to be patient as it would take a little time.
As Spring…
… approached the apple fairy helped the apple tree fill her branches with beautiful shades of pink blossom dappled between lush green leaves. In Summer the pink blossom turned to delicate white flowers that reminded them both of the stars they longed to touch. As Autumn came they almost forgot about the promise of the star fairy as their branches filled with the juiciest apples.
One cool, bright Autumn night the star fairy came with a basket bursting full of stars. In the starlight night the apple tree and apple fairy were so apologetic and explained there was no space for the stars as they had so many wonderful apples. The little star fairy said not to worry, she had a magical plan. She touched each apple on the beautiful tree with her little wand. With each careful tap, she placed a star inside the apple. She explained that any time a child cuts open an apple they would find a star to brighten their day. The apple tree and apple fairy were so grateful and thanked the star fairy who flew back off to the stars.
The Magic
At the end of the story you take an apple and cut it horizontally. You then open up around the middle to reveal the star. It’s total magic. Then we eat the apple, or two or three! You can also use the apple star as a paint printer for crafty projects. Often they get made into apple and cinnamon muffins in our house too.
Foraging for Apples
Foraging for apples is probably the more respectable way of describing my late Nan’s favourite childhood pursuit. In essence she was an apple scrumper! I think I’ve just made up the word scrumper 🤣. She would reminisce about her scrumping days and how deftly she could could climb any tree.
What is Scrumping?
Apple scrumping is a traditional countryside activity. It usually refers to the act of secretly taking apples from orchards or trees without permission. Historically, it was often seen as a mischievous pastime of children. Children would sneak into orchards to collect fruit for fun or snacks.
While sometimes considered harmless and part of rural life, scrumping was technically theft, and farmers often took a dim view of it, especially if trees were damaged in the process. In modern times, the word “scrumping” can carry a nostalgic, playful tone, evoking images of adventure, childhood daring, and the simple enjoyment of freshly picked fruit.
My Nan’s scrumping did sound very different to this typical rural adventure in that she was a city girl who grew up in Birmingham scrumping from neighbours and parks. Now I’m not advocating stealing fruit but there are often orchards you can go to to pick your own fruit, legally! I think being able to select your own apples from an orchard would make the apple star story even more magical.
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