17 February

Pierre
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Pomme de reinette et pomme d'api is a famous French nursery rhyme that refers to two varieties of apples.

About the song

The two varieties of apples mentioned in the song are:

Pomme d'api - The api apple is a variety of apple that is often green or yellow, with a bright red part. The apple is sweet, crunchy and juicy.

Pomme de reinette - The reinette apple (French for Little Queen) is the name of a number of apple cultivars.

Pomme d'api

Api apple

Pomme de reinette

Reinette apple

D'api or Tapis?

To simplify the song for children, the line "D'api d'api rouge" (difficult for children to understand) was substituted with the simpler "Tapis, tapis rouge" or "Petit tapis rouge" (literally "Red carpet", which is at odd with the song's theme).

Pomme de reinette et pomme d'api

In Italian too!

An Italian nursery rhyme was derived from the song, where the refrain, by a process of corruption of the original pattern, became a nonsense:

« Ponte ponente ponte pì

Tappetà Perugia

Ponte ponente ponte pì

Tappetà perì. »

Apples and apple trees in France

The apple, fruit of the Tree of Life and Knowledge, has been, since the dawn of time, the universal symbol of seduction and offering, of Good and Evil

3,000 years ago, the apple was eaten by the Chinese. It arrived via the Silk Road to the Arabs, Greeks and Romans. Pliny the Elder later listed about one hundred varieties. Today, there are more than 20,000 varieties, of which 7,000 are cultivated throughout the world.

The Gauls

For the Gauls, the apple tree, a word of Celtic origin, was a sacred tree like the oak. It was often laden with the sacred mistletoe revered by the Druids. The Celts, who invaded Gaul in the first millennium, were very fond of the apple. The fruit was a symbol in their traditions.

Appletree, spring time in Alsace © French Moments

A magnificent apple tree © French Moments

Apples made in Normandy

In the Middle Ages, Normandy was the country's main orchard. Monasteries and convents played an important role in the development of apple growing.

Around the 18th and especially in the 19th century, apple growing became widespread and spread to a large part of Brittany and Normandy, resulting in the sparkling cider we know today and the chubby, crisp apples on our tables. Not forgetting delicious apple tarts!

Tarte aux Pommes © French Moments

Apple Tart from Normandy © French Moments

Pomme de reinette et pomme d'api

Lyrics, music, free download... let's learn more about the popular song:

The lyrics in French

The original song has 1 verse.

Couplet

Pomme de reinette et pomme d'api

Tapis tapis rouge

Pomme de reinette et pomme d'api

Tapis tapis gris

Translation of the lyrics into English

Here is an approximative translation into English:

Verse

Api apple and Reinette apple
Red carpet (red api)
Api apple and Reinette apple
Grey carpet (grey api)

Download the Lyrics for FREE!

No need to type name or email 😀

Pomme de reinette et pomme d'api © French Moments

French Nursery Rhymes

My challenge for the year 2023 is to publish 80 French Nursery Rhymes lyrics and descriptions (list below). Come back as time goes by to discover the new articles:

French Nursery Rhymes Cover by French Moments
French Nursery Rhymes
A la claire fontaine © French Moments
Ah ! dis-moi donc bergère © French Moments
Ah ! Les crocodiles © French Moments
Ah ! vous dirai-je, maman © French Moments
Ainsi font, font, font © French Moments
Alouette gentille alouette © French Moments
Au clair de la lune © French Moments
Au feu les pompiers © French Moments
Au royaume de Diguedondaine © French Moments
Auprès de ma blonde © French Moments
Aux marches du palais © French Moments
Blanc Blanc Blanc belle rose © French Moments
Bon voyage Monsieur Dumollet © French Moments
Buvons un coup ma serpette est perdue © French Moments
C'est la mère Michel © French Moments
C'était Anne de Bretagne © French Moments
Cadet Rousselle © French Moments
Car c’est un bon camarade © French Moments
Chère Élise © French Moments
Chevaliers de la table ronde © French Moments
Colchiques dans les prés © French Moments
Compagnons de la Marjolaine © French Moments
Dame Tartine © French Moments
Dans les prisons de Nantes © French Moments
Dansons la capucine © French Moments
Dodo, l'enfant do © French Moments
En passant par la Lorraine © French Moments
Fais dodo © French Moments
Fleur d’épine © French Moments
Frère Jacques © French Moments
Gentil coquelicot © French Moments
Il court, il court, le furet © French Moments
Il était un petit cordonnier © French Moments
Il était un petit navire © French Moments
Il était une bergère © French Moments
Il pleut, il pleut, bergère © French Moments
J'ai du bon tabac © French Moments
J'ai un gros nez rouge © French Moments
J'fais pipi sur le gazon © French Moments
Je te tiens par la barbichette © French Moments
Joyeux anniversaire © French Moments
La bonne aventure ô gué © French Moments
La danse des canards © French Moments
La légende de saint Nicolas © French Moments
Le bon roi Dagobert © French Moments
Le carillon de Vendôme © French Moments
Le coucou © French Moments
Le facteur n'est pas passé © French Moments
Le fermier dans son pré © French Moments
Le temps des cerises © French Moments
Le temps du muguet © French Moments
Le vieux MacDonald © French Moments
Les filles de La Rochelle © French Moments
Maman les p'tits bateaux © French Moments
Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre © French Moments
Meunier, tu dors © French Moments
Mignonne allons voir si la rose © French Moments
Mon âne © French Moments
Mon père m'a donné un mari © French Moments
Ne pleure pas Jeannette © French Moments
Nous n'irons plus au bois © French Moments
Ô gai, vive la rose © French Moments
Passe passe passera © French Moments
Pirouette Cacahuète © French Moments
Plantons la vigne © French Moments
Pomme de reinette et pomme d'api © French Moments
Pomme, pêche, poire, abricot © French Moments
Promenons-nous dans les bois © French Moments
Savez-vous planter les choux ? © French Moments
Sur la route de Dijon © French Moments
Sur la route de Louviers © French Moments
Sur le pont d'Avignon © French Moments
Sur le pont du nord © French Moments
Tout va très bien madame la marquise © French Moments
Trois jeunes tambours © French Moments
Un éléphant ça trompe énormément © French Moments
Un kilomètre à pied © French Moments
Un, deux, trois, nous irons au bois © French Moments
Une chanson douce © French Moments
Une poule sur un mur © French Moments
Une souris verte © French Moments
V'la le bon vent © French Moments
Voici le mois de mai © French Moments
Y avait dix filles dans un pré © French Moments
About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of the Discovery Course on the Secrets of the Eiffel Tower and the Christmas book "Voyage au Pays de Noël".

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