Putting Navel Oranges in Holiday Stockings is a Great Tradition

This year be part of a centuries old tradition by putting navel oranges in Christmas stockings for your family. Navel oranges are a healthy sweet treat that everyone can enjoy, so they are perfect for Christmas gifts. They are also affordable, especially if you buy a large box of them and keep the extras around for snacking during and after the holidays. Putting navel oranges in holiday stockings is a tradition that first began a long time ago in Europe. Back in the Middle Ages children would hang up their stockings by the fire at Christmastime hoping to get a small treat or reward.

In those days it was very difficult to get fresh fruit in the winter time. All fruit has to be imported during the cold weather months, and imported items were very expensive because of the long and dangerous journeys that were necessary to bring fruit, spices and other items back to Europe from other parts of the world. Because it took a long time for the ships to get back to Europe often fresh fruit would spoil, so the fruit that survived the journey was always in high demand which would drive up the price. In those days getting an orange would have been like getting a top of the line TV or one of the newest smart phones would be today.

One of the reasons why fresh fruit was given during the holiday season was for the nutritional benefits of fresh fruit. Illnesses like scurvy, which is a mouth problem that can cause tooth loss and other problems, were common during the winter months when fresh fruit and the Vitamin C and minerals contained in the fruit was simply not available. Getting navel oranges and other citrus fruits for Christmas gifts meant a better chance of staying healthy throughout the winter and making it to the spring time without developing any serious health problems. Since children need the extra nutrition contained in fresh fruit more than adults parents would often save money all year so that they could afford to buy Christmas navel oranges for their kids. In wealthy households wedding would be held at Christmas and oranges were often given as wedding gifts to show off the wealth of the bride’s family.

Continuing the tradition of giving navel oranges or other citrus fruits at Christmas is a great way to teach your kids the history of Christmas celebrations and to be a part of a long standing tradition that spans thousands of years and many different countries.

Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves

At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.

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