Cherries are a relatively ancient cultivated plant, dating back over 2,000 years. The first cherry trees appeared in the Mediterranean, from where they migrated to Turkey, the Caucasus, and Persia. The ancient Romans brought cherries to Europe. 

Traditionally, in Western culture, cherries are considered a symbol of life and joy, and the cherry itself is often called the berry of paradise or a symbol of infinity. Artists and iconographers of past centuries often depicted cherries instead of apples as a symbol of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.