A – ‘Apple, Big’

The abc of Food Cooking and People

‘Apple, Big

              The Big Apple is a nickname for New York City. It has nothing to do with apples as a crop. The name originated in the 1920s and was popularised in the 1930s. It was first associated with a nightclub named the Big Apple. Later, the name became linked with a dance of the same name, which became a national craze.

The term gained further recognition in the 1920s through sports journalism. A writer named John J. Fitz Gerald used “Big Apple” in his columns for the New York Morning Telegraph. He referred to New York’s prominent horse racing tracks, describing them as the “big prize” for jockeys and trainers. Over time, the term came to symbolise the city itself. During the Harlem Renaissance, jazz musicians called New York City the “Big Apple.” This name symbolized the city’s importance in the jazz scene. This cultural reference further embedded the nickname into popular culture.

In the 1930s, the term gained further prominence. It associated with a dance called the “Big Apple”. This dance originated in a club in Columbia, South Carolina. This dance became a national craze and contributed to the widespread use of the nickname for New York City.

By the 1970s, the nickname was officially embraced as part of a campaign to promote New York City tourism. Today, “The Big Apple” represents the city’s vibrancy, diversity, and cultural significance. The nickname endures as a global symbol of New York’s charm and energy. Its origins have little to do with the fruit.