Apricot fruit in the agricultural heritage of the Levant

Arab Weather - The end of May and June of each year are considered the month of apricots par excellence, as they are a fast-growing fruit that appears once a year for only one month.

The original home of the apricot fruit:
China is the original home of the apricot fruit. The apricot tree is a medium-sized fruit tree and is considered a perennial tree. Its cultivation has spread to most countries of the world, especially those with cold and moderate climates, such as the Levant, especially Syria, which is famous for its apricots, especially the "Hamawi" variety.

What are the benefits of apricots?
Apricots contain vitamin A. Apricots are rich in sugars, fiber, and carbohydrates. Dried apricots have a higher sugar concentration than fresh apricots, which helps provide the body with energy. Apricots are an important ingredient for fasting, so they are commonly eaten during the holy month of Ramadan for breakfast and suhoor. Apricot jam, a quintessential Syrian drink, is also made from apricots, as well as apricot juice.

Apricot in Eastern mythology.
The residents of the Ghouta of Damascus have become accustomed to gathering the apricot orchards that are widely spread in their region, after the afternoon prayer on the sixth of May every year. This is so that the owner of the apricot farm can absolve anyone who wants to gather his orchard of any moral responsibility resulting from the effects of climate change, such as rising temperatures or cold and frosty winds, as the apricot fruits are not affected by any climatic conditions after this date.

The most famous oral proverbs in the Levant about the apricot tree
1- "In the apricot": This means that the hope of obtaining the request is almost impossible.
2- “Apricot Friday”: When they describe something beautiful (such as a special compatibility between two people that will quickly disappear in their eyes), they say: “Apricot Friday.” This is because the apricot ripening period is short and its season ends quickly.