The Christmas Orange: A Historical Tradition
The Origins of the Christmas Orange
The tradition of placing an orange in the toe of a Christmas stocking dates back to the 19th century, when the custom of hanging stockings near the fire became popular. According to Emily Spivack of Smithsonian.com, the tradition of hanging holiday hosiery can be traced back to at least 1823, when it is mentioned in the classic poem “Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas,” later known as “The Night Before Christmas.”
The practice of putting an orange in the stocking may have originated from the legend of the three balls (or bags or bars or coins) of gold that the Bishop of Myra, the real Saint Nicholas, gave to three poor maidens to use as dowries. According to some tellings of the story, Saint Nicholas threw the gold bags into their house through a window in the dead of night, and one conveniently landed in a stocking drying by the fire.
Another theory suggests that the orange’s inclusion in the Christmas stocking was due to its exotic nature in wintry Europe. At the end of the nineteenth century, oranges were a rare and expensive fruit, especially for families of modest means. Merchants brought the citrus from places like Valencia, Spain, and Ivrea, Italy, where there was a longstanding tradition of pelting one another with oranges.
The Role of the Citrus Industry
The California Fruit Growers Exchange played a significant role in popularizing the Christmas orange tradition. In 1908, the Exchange began a massive sales campaign for its Sunkist label. Nearly 1,500 Manhattan retail stores and soda fountains displayed bright orange advertisements in their windows. At Christmas, a cartoon Santa Claus offered an orange as the “most healthful gift.”
The California Citrograph, a monthly publication devoted to the citrus industry, embraced the Christmas orange tradition as part of its sales pitch. In a January 1921 article, the editor opined, “‘A Christmas orange for the toe of every Christmas stocking’ is a wish that the Exchange would like to see fulfilled this year.”
The Orange in the Great Depression
During the Great Depression, the orange became an affordable luxury and played an important role in the Depression-era stocking. Considered the “fruit of the Great Depression,” the orange became a ubiquitous accompaniment of the Christmas stocking. For those who couldn’t get their hands on it even during Christmas time, the appeal of the orange became even more heightened.
The Symbolism of the Orange
Throughout history, the orange has been linked to luxury goods and exoticism. Art historian Helen L. Kohen writes that part of the appeal of the fruit might be its mystery. Citrus experts have yet to identify where, exactly, citron, the progenitor of modern citrus, came from.
Today, the orange still holds philosophical significance. It represents the gift of what came before and evokes a sense of nostalgia.
The Christmas Orange Today
While the appeal of the Christmas orange may not seem as special today, given the abundance of fresh fruit available year-round, it remains a cherished tradition for many. Tucking an orange in the stocking this year is not just the gift of a fruit, but a reminder of the history and symbolism associated with this festive treat.