"There is no nobler fruit in the universe" – Jean de Léry on pineapples.

For the ancient peoples of the Americas, the pineapple is a fruit symbolizing friendship and hospitality. Families would hang pineapples outside their homes to perfume the entryway and make it welcoming to guests. To this day you'll often find pineapple-shaped door knockers and plinths marking the entry to a property.

In Europe, however, the pineapple came to symbolise luxury and wealth as the fruit was so perishable it was fantastically expensive to buy as it was imported from the tropics. Middle-class families could even rent a pineapple to show at parties!

As shipping methods grew faster and more effective, pineapple’s price quickly dropped and it became a fruit available to people of nearly every income level, but today you will still find a fascination with pineapples in decor harking back to it's earlier prestige.

The good news is, there's no need to rent a pineapple to take to your next party, you can take pineapples with you on your socks any day of the week.