Steinfeld Local Custom Tips by ettiewyn

Hermann Joseph von Steinfeld is a saint who was born in Cologne and later lived in Steinfeld. He was a Premonstratenserian monk who worked as a priest, sexton and pastor in Steinfeld.
You can see his tomb in the basilica, it is a beautiful stone tomb with his lying sculpture on it. The remarkable thing was that there were several apples placed on the tomb and I wondered what kind of custom this was, so I did a little research.

The custom of the apples is connected to a legend: When still living in Cologne, Hermann Joseph offered apples to a statue of the Virgin Mary. Legend has it, that once, the child Jeses which was also a part of the statue, outstretched his arm and took an apple from Hermann Joseph's hand. Thus, he became known as the "Saint of Apples" and the people still bring apples to his tomb in Steinfeld.

The statue of the Virgin Mary is located in the church "Maria im Kapitol" and it is a custom to give apples to this statue as well. I have not been there, but I want to go and see it. I think it is a quite facinating custom because I was so astonished when I saw the apples on the tomb.