When my local grocery store’s produce section gets taken over by boxes of mandarin oranges in December, I get a little too excited. If anything deserves the ‘nature’s candy’ moniker, mandarin oranges would be at the top of the list. Much easier to peel and section, and with a sweeter taste than their bigger cousins, mandarin oranges go down a little too easily. Left unsupervised, I could easily inhale five of them in one sitting, but I just tell myself that’s a smarter choice than five shortbread cookies. Am I right?!

The Origins of the Holiday Tradition

If the name ‘mandarin’ doesn’t ring a bell to you, these sweet little citrus fruits are also known as satsumas, clementines, and even tangerines.

No matter what you call them, there’s no doubt that these oranges hold special significance at this time of year. Removing the quintessential light green tissue that wraps each orange is like opening a special present. Maybe that’s why they’re so popular around the holidays. In fact, mandarin oranges have been given as gifts in several cultures for over a hundred years.

In China, the world’s top mandarin orange producer, they are considered symbols of abundance and luck and are often gifted between friends and relatives or displayed in celebration of Chinese New Year. They are also used in traditional Chinese medicine to enhance digestion, which may come in handy during holiday season when we tend to give our digestive systems a more strenuous workout.

The popularization of mandarin oranges occurred in North America sometime around the 1880s thanks to Japanese immigrants. Relatives in Japan would send them over, and the non-Japanese population found it difficult to resist their sweet juices. Soon, the oranges spread across the continent by train and quickly became a Christmas tradition in Canada and the USA. Somehow, the oranges made their way into Christmas stockings, a tradition said to have replaced the gold coins Saint Nicholas would leave for the less fortunate children in his village.

In Vancouver, BC, Canada, which also happens to be Luvo headquarters, there’s an age-old tradition that takes place when the first batch of mandarin oranges arrives in the ports from Japan every year. The precious cargo is welcomed into Canada with a festival that features Santa Claus and Japanese dancers.

Of all holiday treats one could indulge in, fruit is probably one of the healthiest, bringing essential nutrients and vitamins along with the natural sweetness. Grab a box of mandarin oranges next time you’re at the grocery store and enjoy!

Do you have fond memories of miniature oranges at this time of year? Share your stories in the comments, on our Facebook page, or on Twitter at @luvoinc.