As I was slicing and drying oranges this year I began to wonder when they became a tradition? You know how some Christmas traditions have a defining movement that cemented them in our hearts forever. How did dried oranges become a Christmas tradition?
There’s not actually an AHA moment we can trace the tradition of dried orange slices as holiday decor to. I traced the history of oranges and Christmas to see if I could get an idea.
In Yule traditions oranges symbolize the sun, warmth and prosperity. They even look sun-like when they are sliced and hanging from a garland.
But this is a relatively new Yule tradition since early Germanic and Norse people didn’t have access to such exotic fruits. Oranges never grew in the cold/foggy climates of Northern and Western Europe.
Could it come from the O.G. Saint Nicholas folklore?
Some stories tell of an act of heroism by Saint Nicolas in the 3rd -6th century. There’s actually some debate about whom the legend was created after and it could possibly be a mix of two entirely different men.
The legend says that that young maidens were on the brink of being sold into slavery if they couldn’t afford their dowry.
In the middle of the night Saint Nick threw three balls (bags, coins…) through a window and one just so happened to land in a stocking hanging to dry at the fireplace.
Painting by Neri di Bicci (1460-1470)
Now let’s fast forward to Victorian times in Europe to see how this translates to oranges.
Oranges symbolized prosperity. They were a luxury gift and this rare treat was perfect to symbolize gold and prosperity. Folks would be able to purchase oranges from foreign merchants from Spain and Italy.
Since you couldn’t put gold at the toe of a stocking an orange was the perfect symbolic gesture to represent that.
After Queen Victorian and Prince Albert brought the tradition of the Christmas tree to Britain we first hear of oranges being associated with Christmas ornaments.
Oranges were prized for their fragrance. Victorians studded them with cloves for aromatic treat and hung them as pomanders.
It’s not a stretch to assume that drying and slicing these fruits could have been a cheaper and easier alternative than the expensive and fragile handblown ornaments.
My favorite theory is BIG ORANGE.
With the advent in print advertising in the early 1900’s, fruit growing companies like Sunkist took full advantage of associating the big man, stockings and oranges together.
Everything from print ads to in-store displays sought to get oranges in the hands of the consumers.
One publication went so far as to say
“it is wise Santa Claus who gives this fruit to his small believers rather than filling their stockings with cheap, artificially colored and oftentimes injurious candy.”
- Citrograph, January 1921
During the Great Depression it is said many families sought to decorate cheaply during the holidays and turned to slicing and drying oranges as a bit of whimsy and holiday decor during the hard times.
Today dried orange slices are the perfect decor for diy enthusiast, those who love a traditional look and decorators looking to decorate more naturally and sustainably.
Dried Orange Recipe:
Supplies
Navel Oranges
Parchment Paper
1.) Remove oven rack
2.) Pre-heat oven to 170 degrees Fahrenheit
3.) Line the rack with parchment paper.
4.)Thinly slice oranges (1/4 inch is perfect)
5.) Blot the oranges with a cotton towel to remove as much moisture as possible.
6.) Arrange oranges on the parchment paper so they aren’t touching.
7.) Bake for 4-8 hours flipping every hour.
8.) You’ll know they are done when they are dry to the touch.
Happy decorating and Happy Holidays!
