Why do people send fruit baskets when someone dies?

Just a curious question. I understand flowers, but why fruit? Where did this custom start? When my dad died, it was like owning a produce stand. I understand the nice gesture....but I have no idea how this custom came about?

Why do people send fruit baskets when someone dies?
%26quot;You shall take the first of every fruit of the ground produced by the land that God your Lord is giving you. You must place it in a basket, and go to the site that God will choose as the place associated with His name.%26quot; (Deuteronomy 26:2)








Now I%26#039;m no bible thumper...but I asked the same question when I went to my Grandfather%26#039;s funeral. Why the heck were we bombarded with bananas and pineapples and pomegranets and such....fruit is supposed to symbolize the world of creation. Life.
Reply:Actually, it started as a Dutch custom. To look upon death is very depressing. The early Dutch settlers viewed fruit as something living, and as a symbol of heaven. Hope this helps!
Reply:I never heard of giving fruit baskets when people die. Is it to the family or at the funeral home? If its for the family just a nice gesture I guess. If its at the funeral home that%26#039;s a bit odd unless you plan to share it with the guests.
Reply:haven%26#039;t seen anyone do that here in south carolina ,i have seen fruit baskets being sent to the hospital , i guess what ever they wont to send is all done in kindness though .
Reply:to mask the dead people stink...


with fruity goodness...
Reply:Not sure about the custom, but I know when my Dad died, people brought food to our house. They knew my Mom wasn%26#039;t going to feel like cooking at that time and also there were a lot of people around, dropping in and it%26#039;s nice to be able to offer them something to eat. Fruit is easy.
Reply:WELL AT LEAST U CAN EAT TEH FRUIT UNLIKE TEH FLOWERS WHICH DIE SO MAYBE THEY WANT TO SHOW U THEY CARE AND REMIND U TO EAT DURING TEH SAD TIME I DONT KNOW?????????????????
Reply:to eat fruits...
Reply:I don%26#039;t know but that is a good question!
Reply:I guess people think that flowers are very common and a maybe a fruit basket will cheer you up. In the old days people always brought food to the familys home, maybe its a spin off of that.
Reply:just a consolation.and showing your condolonces and that you are grieving with them.
Reply:It%26#039;s symbolic for life must go on, so you must eat to continue life.
Reply:I haven%26#039;t encountered that too much. Anytime someone I have known of has died, people send over dinners. I guess because when someone has died, you don%26#039;t want to bother having to cook for guests.
Reply:Dead people like fruit.



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