The sweetness and unusual appearance of the pineapple made it a sought-after delicacy in colonial America. When it was served to guests, they were naturally flattered at the honor, and thus may have evolved the idea that the pineapple was considered a sign of the highest form of hospitality. By the Gilded Age and through the present day, the pineapple became a familiar symbolic image of welcome, good cheer, warmth and affection.
Since 1681, the pineapple has been recognized as a Christian symbol in that each pineapple plant gives its own life to produce a single fruit. In the 17th century, Christopher Wren began using pineapple finials on churches.