We find different meanings of the apple found as a funerary motif in European cemeteries:
- Its spherical shape is sometimes interpreted as a sign of eternity
- It may also represent the temptation of the world and or sin (calling to mind the forbidden fruit in the Book of Genesis; the apple eaten by Adam and Eve that was taken from the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden).
- In the hand of Christ, the apple is considered as a sign of salvation.
In some cases, apples are associated withwith the rural world (such as at La Carriona Cemetery in Avilés, in a region where the production and drinking of cider is part of the regional culture).