The
C2 office is currently a glow with Christmas lights, trimmed in green, red, and
gold and smelling of sweet oranges. It’s looking a lot like Christmas! 😊 This got me to thinking:
When did oranges become part of Christmas? I can hardly think of a Christmas
without oranges sitting out somewhere in my home. We all know they are packed
with vitamin C which can help fight off winter colds but is there more to this
holiday tradition? Actually, yes, and there are a few stories on how it started
but here’s my favorite:
St.
Nicholas inherited a large sum of money but devoted his life to helping others,
and eventually became a bishop. According to the story, St. Nicholas learned of
a poor man who was unable to find husbands for his three daughters because he
couldn’t afford a dowry. St. Nicholas went to the house and tossed 3 sacks of
gold down the chimney. The gold happened to land in each girls’ stocking which
were drying by the fire. Oranges are now symbolic of the gold that was left in
the stockings that night.
In a
way, that orange in your stocking represents the season of giving and that
spirit is what this time of year is all about. Merry Christmas everyone!
Written by: Wenona Mertens
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