The meaning of the name Avalon
The name Avalon is from the Celtic Avalloc or Avallach, a Celtic demigod who ruled the underworld. The word Avalon means: “The Isle of Apples”. Indeed, many apple trees grow in Glastonbury, but that does not have to mean anything. The apple was seen as the fruit of wisdom for Goddesses, a magical fruit. A dragon or a serpent guarded the holy orchard. Later, the apple became a forbidden fruit in the bible, and Eve, urged by the serpent, was accused of seducing Adam to take a bite of this forbidden fruit. The tone was set and women, from now on, were portrayed as seducers and traitors by the church. With this, the church leaders succeeded in their mission to ban the (female) nature religion and to entice people to convert to Christianity. And yet, the mystical meaning of Avalon stayed alive, especially in legends; she slumbered in the background, waiting until the fruit of wisdom could be eaten again and we can use our inner wisdom once more.
