Why is New York called the big apple? Why is the Big Apple a symbol of New York? Why did the city get its nickname?

29.03.2020

Which city is called the "big apple"? And why?

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7 (50998) 5 50 156 7 years

« Big apple"(eng. "The Big Apple") - the most famous nickname New York. Originated in the 1920s.

There are several versions of the origin of the term.

1. According to research conducted by amateur etymologist Barry Popik and Professor Gerald Cohen of the University of Missouri, the term originated in the 1920s. It was promoted by New York Morning Telegraph sportswriter John Fitzgerald, who first used it in the May 3, 1921 issue. On February 18, 1924, in a column entitled "Around the Big Apple," he explained that he had heard the expression in New Orleans. Horses love apples, and racing in New York is, according to jockeys, "a big apple."

2. According to another version, the expression originated among jazz musicians who had a proverb: "There are a lot of apples on the tree of success, but if you managed to conquer New York, you got a big apple." In the 1930s, there was a song and dance called "The Big Apple". In the 1940s and 1950s, the nickname was used by journalist and radio host Walter Winchell.

In the early 1970s, the New York City Tourism Bureau organized advertising campaign to popularize the term. The campaign was successful.
In 1997, the corner of West 54th Street and Broadway, where John Fitzgerald lived from 1934-1963, was named the Big Apple Corner by an official decree from Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
According to the reference and information portal "Russian Language", in Russian spelling only the first word is capitalized: "Big Apple" or City of the Big Apple.

To find out what the "Big Apple" really is, you need to stay with New York eye to eye - just you and the metropolis. Walk along the "museum mile", squint from the bright lights of Broadway, reach the sky from the height of the Empire State Building and look at the legendary Statue of Liberty.

It is impossible to remain indifferent to this city. It is so contrasting, so bright and extraordinary that it seems as if you are Alice in the Looking Glass and found yourself in another, parallel world!

This metropolis of almost eight million is not without reason called the United States in miniature: everything that is in this huge country is one hundred percent in New York. Fashion trends, a mix of nationalities, languages and religions, assorted goods, in the end, the very rhythm of life is purely American.

Answers

7 (88378) 7 26 967 7 years

This is New York. The apple is the symbol of the city. There are several versions of why New York was called the Big Apple.
The most common version: the term "Big Apple" appeared in the 1930s, when New York gradually gained fame as the capital of jazz. There was a proverb among jazz musicians: "There are a lot of apples on the tree of success, but if you managed to win New York, you got a big apple."
In the 19th century, there were many brothels in New York and a fresh young prostitute was called a bullseye. This name was launched by the French aristocrat Evelyn Claudine de Saint-Emeraude, who emigrated to New York and opened one of the first salons where young men from wealthy families could meet girls who were called "Eve's apples."
The term "Big Apple" originated in the 1920s. and was first used by New York Morning Telegraph sportswriter John Fitzgerald. At this time, New York racetracks are very famous. Fitzgerald says that in New Orleans he heard this expression from jockeys: “Horses love apples, and racing in New York is a big apple. He picks up this expression and uses it to describe the world of New York racing. He calls his chronicle "Around the Big Apple".
And New York guides from Brighton Beach say that the association between the "apple" and New York arose because the first tree planted by the first settlers and gave fruit was an apple tree, and therefore the apple became a symbol of New York.
6 (7139) 6 78 162 7 years

One ensemble of jazz musicians liked to call the place of their performance "apple". So, during their speech in Manhattan, these guys didn’t have the courage to call the city of New York just an apple, and they called the place of their speech “The Big Apple”.

There is no official version of the origin of such a popular nickname in everyday life. However, there are several hypotheses and options from which you can choose your favorite.

Option 1: the nickname "big apple" appeared in the jazz environment in the 20s of the last century

This is one of the most popular versions, which lies in the fact that the nickname is a quote from a popular song, the full line of which in Russian sounds like this: “There are a lot of apples on the tree of success, but if you managed to conquer New York, you got a big apple” . This version is one of the most curious and romantic, sending us back to the glory days of jazz culture. However, there are other versions as well.

As a rule, this version is widely used in literature, press and cinema, as it is the most artistic and interesting for the human imagination. New York has always been and remains the birthplace of jazz, which is why this hypothesis has not lost its relevance for so many years. The layer of culture that was born thanks to this city is huge, and deserves a completely poetic version of explanation and justification.

Option 2: historical approach.

Gerald Cohen is a scientist, anthropologist, and Missouri State professor who became very interested in the mystery of the origin of the nickname. At one point, he decided to join forces with the learned etymologist Bari Popik. After conducting a study, the scientists came to a joint conclusion - the author of this statement and nickname is the journalist John Fitzgerald, who used the New-York Morning Telegraph in his sports review.

Based on this publication, scientists date the first mention of this nickname. The journalist himself mentioned that he heard this phrase for the first time in New Orleans in the context of horse racing. The author liked the statement and he gladly used it.

The binding to horses and racing is, of course, the most historically verified and scientific. However, in this case, the imagination suffers. If you consider yourself a creative person, or a fan of jazz music, then this version does not suit you. If you really wanted to know the most historical version of all - it is in front of you and it is the most reliable of the rest. Of course, it is also impossible to deny the possibility of combining the first two versions, since this happened in the same documented period of time.

Option 3. Modern version

The 21st century is the century of digital technologies and information revolutions. The modern theory of the origin of the term "big apple" is based on the presence in Manhattan of a huge store of Apple Corporation - one of the market leaders modern technologies. Of course, this option has nothing to do with history and science, because it is impossible to establish such a correspondence in any chronological way.

Now, realizing all the possible options, you can choose any one to your taste, but still it is worth sticking to the historical perspective of this issue and understanding that the modern scientific community simply does not perceive the existence of the latest version, because chronologically it cannot be explained in any way.

Thus, in the bottom line there is a historical and cultural context, from which it is impossible to escape. Choose your favorite theory, do not forget that in the 50s this nickname was also used in the election campaigns of the mayors of New York. Be aware, warned, and therefore armed.

29.04.2015

A metropolis of many millions, pierced by skyscrapers, girded with bridges and flooded with neon light - this never-sleeping, seething city of glass and concrete contrasts does not even remotely resemble a round, ripe, juicy apple. And, nevertheless, it is called and known all over the world precisely as the "Big Apple". And this name has taken root so much that the apple has really become a symbol business center America. And the Americans themselves made a lot of efforts to popularize it.

One of the streets of the city was officially named in honor of the symbol - "Big Apple" not so long ago, sculptures depicting this fruit appeared in the parks. AT New Year in the very center of the city at twelve o'clock sharp, a huge luminous apple descends from the Times Tower. Why exactly did the apple win the honor of becoming a symbol of New York? There are many assumptions about this, and for several years various organizations and historical societies have been trying to find out the truth about the original source.

According to one of the most famous versions, the city got its nickname from John Fitzgerald, who commented on the races in New York in the sports section of the newspaper. It was the jockeys who called the significant competitions held there the “Big Apple”. According to another version, the apple tree was one of the first trees planted by settlers from Europe. And it was the apple tree that first bore fruit.

The most common version attributes the emergence of the term "big apple" to the environment of black jazz musicians from Harlem, who became incredibly popular in the 30s of the last century. The measure of success for them was the conquest of New York. Of all the apples on the tree of success, the big apple of this mega-city was considered the most valuable. Symbolizing the dream, a song and dance with the same name arose at the same time.

The least known version says that during the Great Depression, it was in New York that the distribution of apples to the poorest segments of the population was organized. The version about brothels that appeared in New York in the 19th century is considered piquant and delicate. The girls who worked in these houses were called Eve's apples. There are many versions, but none of them can claim to be the only correct one, and at the same time, they all have the right to exist.

All the events mentioned in them took place in reality, and is it really important in honor of which of these events New York acquired a juicy nickname. It is important that its inhabitants are unanimous in their love for the symbol of the city. The apple is firmly established in the history of New York and is not going to leave its pedestal.

"Go ahead, bite the Big Apple. Don"t mind the maggots."

- The Rolling Stones, "Shattered""

John Lennon said: “I regret profoundly that I was not an American and not born in Greenwich Village. It might be dying, and there might be a lot of dirt in the air you breathe, but this is where it’s happening”(I deeply regret that I am not an American and was not born in Greenwich Village. It may be dying and there is a lot of dirt in its air, but this is exactly where everything happens). New York is a huge cauldron full of weird, loud, crazy and incredibly eccentric people with no complexes who don't care what you think of them. New York is the smell of pizza and trash, bagels, the Statue of Liberty, Fifth Avenue, Broadway, Woody Allen, Central Park and Times Square. This is a city that is easier to hate than to love. But one thing is for sure - it is definitely not boring to live in it.

New York's most famous nickname is the "Big Apple" The Big Apple). The history of the origin of this name is not simple (after all, nothing is simple in New York), and there are a lot of theories. Some credit Depression-era apple vendors, a Harlem nightclub, and a popular 1930s dance known as “ big apple". Others claim that the first tree planted by the settlers at this location was an apple tree. Hence the connection with the apple.

The first written mention of the term " big apple” we can find in Edward S. Martin’s book “ The Wayfarer in New York” (1909): "Kansas is apt to see in New York a greedy city…. It inclines to think that the big apple gets a disproportionate share of the national sap(Kansas tends to see New York as a greedy city... It tends to think that the big apple gets a disproportionate share of the nation's funds.) Scholars are divided here, but generally speaking, almost everyone thinks it doesn't roll as a parent.

According to research conducted by Barry Popik and Gerald Cohen, the nickname “ big apple” originated and spread in the 1920s thanks to the sportswriter “ New York Morning Telegraph” John Fitzgerald. He heard this appeal to New York in New Orleans at the races: horses love apples, and racing in New York, according to jockeys, is "a big apple." In his column "Around the Big Apple" ( Around the Big Apple) he wrote:

Two dusky stable hands were leading a pair of thoroughbred around the "cooling rings" of adjoining stables at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans and engaging in desultory conversation.

"Well, you"d better fatten up them skinners or all you"ll get from the apple will be the core."

(Big Apple. The dream of anyone who has ever thrown a leg over the back of a thoroughbred riding horse, and the goal of all riders. There is only one Big Apple. This is New York.

Two swarthy stable workers were leading a pair of horses through the "cooling rings" of adjoining stables at the Fair Grounds racetrack in New Orleans, talking incoherently.

“From here we will go to the Big Apple,” proudly answered the second.

“Then you’d better fatten those skinny ones, otherwise all you get from an apple will be a core.”)

Since then, many other nicknames for New York have arisen, in particular Big Rotten Apple or simply Rotten Apple because of the anger and depression of the people of this city, crime, drug addiction, prostitution and so on.

The following idiom is associated with New York:

in a New York minute- very fast, instantly

I would sell that car in a New York minute if the right offer came along.

(I would sell these cars at once if the right offer came up)

And finally, a few examples of New York slang. New York slang is very diverse. You need to write a separate article about this ... or immediately a book.

Mad(Bronx) - very

Chris Rock was mad funny last night.

(Chris Rock was very funny last night)

I'm mad hungry.

(I am very hungry)

son(Brooklyn) - address to a stranger

(Hey son, why don't you park somewhere else?)

schlock- an adjective describing in general something cheap and of poor quality (rubbish, junk). Used, for example, to describe souvenirs that tourists buy in New York. The item that is schlock is tchotchke(tsatska, cheap thing, knick-knack).

Almost every person, regardless of social status, knows what a nickname is. It does not always correspond to the image of its owner, for example, a large person can be called a Kid, or vice versa. A similar phenomenon is present not only in people's lives. You may be surprised, but cities also have nicknames. Even the metropolis, which millions of tourists aspire to get into, New York, is called the "Big Apple". Why? Let's look at all existing versions.

Jazz

Ardent jazz fans have their own version of why New York is called the "Big Apple". It's no secret that Americans are very fond of jazz music. The peak of popularity of this musical direction came in the first half of the last century. The best bands, which brought real delight to the listeners, gathered in New York, where they expected to receive even greater fame and earn a fortune. Among musicians, a phrase appeared that eventually became popular. It sounded like this: “The apple tree is full of apples, but if you are lucky to perform in New York, then you can assume that the biggest apple is already in your pocket.” The expression became a catchphrase, and the nickname was assigned to the metropolis. But there is another version of why New York is called the "Big Apple". It is also directly related to jazz.

Jazz Manhattan

Some musicians starting their careers in the thirties of the last century remember the jazz ensemble that Manhattan has chosen. The guys regularly arranged impromptu concerts, which gathered a huge crowd of fans, and the place for performances began to be called the "Big Apple". Subsequently, the "nickname" spread to the entire island, and over the years to the city.

Jazz dance and song

In the 30s of the last century, as we have already mentioned, jazz was incredibly popular among Americans. At this time, a real hit was released, which was called "Big Apple". New Yorkers were very fond of dancing to it, and even a new dance appeared with a similar name. Radio host Walter Winchell liked it so much that he constantly called the metropolis "The Big Apple" on his broadcasts.

Sports New York

Enthusiast etymologist Barry Popik and Professor Gerald Cohen of the University of Missouri disagreed with the suggestion that New York is called the "Big Apple" because of jazz musicians. They did their own research and found one of the earliest uses of the term in relation to the city. On May 3, 1921, the next issue of the New York Morning Telegraph came out, in which there was an article by the then-famous sports columnist John Fitzgerald. The author wrote that in New Orleans he heard another name for New York - "Big Apple". He wondered why they said that about the largest city in the United States.

The man found out that races are very often held in New York, which attract the most experienced jockeys, bringing their horses. Local residents, knowing how much stallions love apples, have always been waiting for such events in order to profitably sell their harvest. Therefore, the jockeys gave their own name to the city - "Big Apple".

The version comes from Brighton Beach

Tourists who find themselves in this most beautiful American metropolis, as a rule, book an excursion, during which they receive maximum information about the city. From guides living in Brighton Beach, you can learn one of the most common versions of why New York is the "Big Apple". Guides say that the name itself has existed for several hundred years, and it appeared thanks to immigrants who arrived in the city from other continents. People who left their homeland began to practice agriculture and plant orchards, and the tree that gave the first harvest was the apple tree.

Bird's-eye

Among the hypotheses that many researchers puzzle over, there is a simple version. Some people are sure that New York got its name at the moment when an airplane first flew over it. The pilot, who looked around the city, noticed that the city limits very much resembled an apple.

Popularization of the name

One can ponder for a long time why New York is called the "Big Apple", considering different versions, but one or another source cannot be called reliable. Be that as it may, this name is very popular with the locals. Thanks to marketing move New York Tourist Bureau, which took place in the 70s of the twentieth century, the "city nickname" became incredibly popular. Today, the inscription "Big Apple" can be found almost everywhere: on souvenirs, on billboards placed throughout the city, in the names of various establishments, on products made in New York. In the center of Manhattan is the Apple brand store, built in the form of a huge glass cube. It is also a kind of symbol of the city, because it has a well-known logo - a large bitten apple.