My husband and I grew up in the same small farming town in Northern California, but our families had different Christmas traditions. My family put chocolates and little puzzle toys in our stockings, but my husband's family would put oranges in their stockings. I thought the oranges in the stockings were a sweet, quaint tradition, so I continued it with our children. It was not until recently that I learned the story behind this tradition.
History
In the 4th century, in the ancient city of Myra, now in Turkey, lived a man who became known by the as Saint Nicholas, by the Dutch as Sinterklass, and in current times as Santa Claus. Nicholas was a Christian bishop who was born into affluence. His belief in the Lord led him to live a generous and compassionate life, especially toward the less fortunate children. His discreet acts of kindness, often involving anonymous gift-giving, earned him a lasting legacy. One classic tale illustrates his extraordinary generosity: there was a poor man unable to provide dowries for his three daughters to get married, to help Saint Nicholas three bags of gold coins were discreetly tossed through their window, landing in stockings or shoes left by the fire to dry.
In 1823 the poem A Visit from Saint Nicholas (Night Before Christmas) was published and quickly became popular. With a combination of the legend of Saint Nicholas and this poem, the tradition of hanging stockings for Christmas was born. A part of the tradition was to place an orange in the stocking's toe to represent good fortune for the recipient and the generosity of a magnanimous Saint Nicholas.
During the Great Depression, many families faced severe economic hardships, and citrus fruits were a scarce delicacy. Giving citrus as a gift was considered generous, and to receive even a single citrus fruit was a celebrated treat. Even during the 1930s, oranges were not easily accessible in most of the states. Oranges made for an exotic, refreshing, and cherished Christmas gift. The refreshing taste of oranges provided a contrast to the more common and practical gifts that might have been found in stockings during difficult times. Over the years, the tradition has persisted, and many families continue to include oranges in Christmas stockings as a nod to the historical significance and a reminder of the festive spirit even in challenging times. Although my family did not partake in the tradition of placing an orange in each Christmas stocking, being from a farming town in California, we did give boxes of oranges and other fruits and nuts as Christmas gifts, unknowingly continuing a homage to ole Saint Nick.
Decorations
Oranges are not limited to gifts at Christmas time, they are also used for a variety of decorations. One of my favorite ways to use oranges to decorate is to thinly slice them and dehydrate them. The dried orange slices can then be placed in evergreen garlands, wreaths, on the tree, or strung together to make a dried fruit garland. You can focus on the delightful scent of citrus, and make dried citrus potpourri, or simmer fresh citruses and spices in a pot for a stovetop potpourri. A fun Christmas craft for children is to combine dried spices such as cloves, cinnamon, star anise, twigs of rosemary, or conifers with fresh or dried oranges. The options for decorating with oranges are nearly endless, and the smell is so refreshing and stress-relieving.
Health
We cannot do our due diligence on oranges without reviewing their health benefits. Oranges can provide us with up to 100% of our daily vitamin C needs, which contribute to resolving scurvy and providing essential nourishment to collagenous tissues and the nervous system. Oranges also provide calcium, potassium, thiamin (vitamin B1), and folate (vitamin B9). Oranges offer immune support, support healthy skin and eyes, help with iron absorption, reduce inflammation, support heart health, support healthy cholesterol levels, support healthy bones, support the development of healthy babies, and may even reduce the risk of some cancers. Citrus peels are packed full of juices that contain aromatic oils that offer a fresh, fruity aroma that can help calm overwhelmed nerves and be emotionally uplifting.
Teas
In addition to making delightful decorations, dried citrus peels are an enjoyable, and enhancing addition to herbal teas. Often when you peel citruses, the pitch is attached to the peel, which has health benefits of its own but brings with it a hint of bitter taste. The bitterness of the pitch helps to support the GI system and digestion. Dried orange peels can be used alone to make tea, but they also blend well with other herbs such as rosemary, rose hips, hibiscus, cardamom, clove, cinnamon, and pine needles.
Pink Sunshine
1 part linden
1 part hibiscus
pinch of rose hips
pinch of dried orange peel
Spiced Sunshine
pinch or two of dried or fresh orange peels
1 cinnamon stick
1 bag of your favorite black tea or chai tea
Mental Sunshine
1 part spearmint
1 part tulsi
1/2 part rosemary
pinch or two of dried orange peel
Combine the herbs in a tea infuser of your choosing, pour freshly boiled water over the herbs, and allow to steep for 10-15 minutes. Add honey if desired.
Aromatherapy
As mentioned above, citrus peels are packed full of aromatic oils. To make citrus essential oils, the most common method is to press the peels to gather the oils released. Citrus essential oils are very uplifting and versatile oils, but be aware that many of them can cause phototoxicity, so it is best to avoid topical use of them. The citrus essential oils that are steam distilled rather than cold pressed, can be used topically when properly diluted. Citrus oils evaporate quickly, so they are used as top notes when blending. When used as aromatherapy, citrus essential oils offer a mood boost, airborne antimicrobial activity, air freshening, immune support, respiratory health support, and help relieve anxiety and reduce feelings of stress while boosting energy. Diffusing citrus oils during the cold winter months helps with relieving some of the winter blues and unwinding the holiday stress that we allow to build up.
Holiday Diffuser Blend
4 drops sweet orange essential oil (Citrus sinensis)
4 drops cedarwood essential oil (Juniperus virginiana)
1 drop nutmeg essential oil (Myristica fragrant)
Holiday Clarity Diffuser Blend
5 drops sweet orange essential oil (Citrus sinensis)
3 drops rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis)
2 drops frankincense essential oil (Boswellia carterii)
This Christmas season, whether hanging stockings, crafting decorations or sipping a citrus-infused tea, let the beautifully generous traditions of Saint Nicholas resonate through your household with the timeless symbolism of oranges.
Merry Christmas!
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