The Fruit of Love

Story

First Man and First Woman argue and First Woman walks away. First Man tries to catch up but is too slow so asks the creator to slow her down. He tries in various ways but it is not until he puts a strawberry in her path that she stops to taste the fruit.

Why we chose it

The Fruit of Love was one of the stories in our original audio stories collection. These stories are particularly suitable for learning to retell.

Where it came from

The story comes from a Cherokee creation story which tells how strawberries first came into the world. Strawberries were linked in story to spring and rebirth – they were the first fruit of the year.

Where it went next

Strawberry festivals are still held across North America to celebrate the strawberry harvest.

Associated stories

In Nipmuck legends strawberries are symbols of forgiveness and friendship. In one story a girl who has fallen out with her brother is lost in the woods. Strawberries grow where her tears fall and she picks them to share with her brother.

Strawberries appear in folklore around the world. In European legends they are usually associated with love. Strawberries were carved onto medieval cathedrals as symbols of perfection.