THE FOLKLORE OF PLANTS: Orange

Lisa Karen Miller

          Nell Gwyn’s background is obscure and filled with hearsay and gossip.  What we can say about her reliably is that she was a leading actress in Restoration London, and a mistress of King Charles II.  She bore him two sons, who were created an earl and a duke.

          She will always be best remembered, however, for selling oranges in the theaters whose boards she would one day tread.

          In our great-grandparents’ day, oranges were still something of a novelty, even though they only had to come from Florida or California, and not the Mediterranean, as in the days before they were cultivated here. Having some for Christmas was a real treat for Depression-era children.

          The scent of a freshly peeled orange has always called to mind the yuletide for me. I always remember a big fat orange lodged snugly in the toe of my stocking on Christmas morning. Clove-studded orange pomanders are still a popular Christmas craft.

          While traveling with Joseph and the infant Jesus, Mary came upon an orange tree that was guarded by eagles. She asked the tree to give her some fruit, and the eagles immediately fell asleep. She then plucked three oranges, one for each of them.

          Having orange blossom in the wedding bouquet may date back to the Saracens, for whom it symbolized a prosperous marriage because in the East, the tree bore fruit and blossom at the same time.      

          The essential oil of Citrus sinensis reduces anxiety, lifts low spirits, and increases cheerfulness.  Blend a few drops with a carrier oil – almond or vitamin E work well – to make an invigorating massage oil.

          The color orange is said to energize psychic power; it also radiates warmth and vitality.  It has been adapted to warn of approaching danger – in the United States threat advisory scale, orange signals a high threat level.

          Sailors on long journeys often developed scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C.  Packing citrus on board, or buying it on Mediterranean stops, ensured they would remain healthy throughout the voyage.  British sailors became known as “Limeys” because of their consumption of citrus.  In later years, the sobriquet was applied to Britons in general.

          In Japan and China, bitter orange, too acid and bitter to eat raw, is made into wine and a conserve.  The dried peel and unripe fruit are used in traditional medicine to aid digestion and loosen congestion.

          As you enjoy your oranges this Christmas, give a thought to Old Nell, perhaps the most famous orange seller ever.

© Copyright 2023 Lisa Karen Miller