The Significance of Oranges Around Lunar New Year, Explained (2024)
As families gear up for the Year of the Dragon, beginning Feb. 10, no Lunar New Year celebration would be complete without mandarin oranges, the sweet, tangy, and conveniently peelable fruit adorning decorated homes and eaten by visitors as a snack.
The ubiquity of the fruit during the festive season has a long history. Since at least the Qing dynasty, Chinese parents would place fruits like mandarin oranges, lychees, dates, or persimmons beside the pillows of their children, along with red envelopes containing money under the pillow, to ward off folkloric monsters. The children would then eat the fruits upon waking up the next morning.
There are multiple explanations for why mandarin oranges have come to be considered such a lucky symbol—a major part of which comes from mere pronunciation. Some say the Mandarin pronunciation of the fruit (ju) sounds like the word for “good luck” (ji). Others point to its Cantonese pronunciation (gam), which is the same as the word “gold.” The Chinese are known for a good amount of “luck talk”—the practice of attributing superstition to certain words and phrases—during Lunar New Year, a tradition believed may herald good fortune for the rest of the year. (Other fruits considered auspicious in Chinese culture include the apple, a hom*ophone for “safety,” and the lychee, hom*onymic with “profit”—though neither, of course, are nearly as popular as the mandarin come Lunar New Year.)
Besides having an auspicious ring to its name, the reddish golden hue and round shape of mandarins are also widely seen as symbols of good luck. They’ve even inspired Chinese art spanning thousands of years: the ancient poem The Orange Tree, widely attributed to Warring States-era poet Qu Yuan, sings praises of a young man with the fruit and tree as its central metaphor; a letter to a friend by Jin Dynasty writer Wang Xizhi, known as the greatest calligrapher in Chinese history, accompanied by a gift of oranges, remains preserved as one of his most famous passages almost two thousand years later. Meanwhile, in Japan’s Wakayama prefecture, famous for growing mandarin oranges, there’s a shrine dedicated to the god of the mikan, also known as the satsuma mandarin.
Today, the mandarin remains a popular fruit, so much so that people will shell out huge sums for the highest quality they can find. (In 2020, a crate of satsuma mandarin oranges in Japan was auctioned for nearly $10,000.) Meanwhile, the rest looking to buy regular, affordable mandarins usually have to deal with demand-driven price hikes during Lunar New Year, when the fruit becomes practically an every-household necessity for festive celebrations.
In southern China, oranges are given during Lunar New Year, a tradition that has since spread to Southeast Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia with large ethnic Chinese populations. Mandarin oranges are exchanged in pairs—even numbers are generally thought to be auspicious while odd numbers are frowned upon—among relatives as an act of well-wishing. Those with stems and leaves still attached carry the extra symbolism of longevity and fertility.
In Japan, during Lunar New Year, the mandarin is often put on top of a mirror rice cake (kagami mochi)—made of two round rice cakes stacked on top of each other. While it was traditionally topped with a bitter orange called daidai (chosen for sounding like the phrase “generation to generation”), it has since been commonly replaced with mikan, another type of mandarin orange that’s typically sweeter.
Meanwhile, in South Korea, the fruit is not as tightly linked to Lunar New Year—celebrated as Seollal—as it is among its neighbors. But the country’s historical love of mandarin oranges has nevertheless proven perennial, with the fruits commonly associated with luxury, bought as gifts, and enjoyed all year round.
In Lunar New Year traditions, revelers believe tangerines, oranges and pomelos bring good fortune. Their Mandarin names echo words with symbolic meanings: "jú" for oranges suggests "good luck" or "fortune," "chéng" for tangerine is akin to "success," and "youzi" for pomelos sounds similar to "have" or "abundance."
And here's the cool part: in Cantonese, another type of Chinese, the word for gold is "gām," and it sounds a bit like "ōugān." So, mandarin oranges are like little golden bundles, bringing good vibes and prosperity during the celebrations!
Mandarin oranges are exchanged in pairs—even numbers are generally thought to be auspicious while odd numbers are frowned upon—among relatives as an act of well-wishing. Those with stems and leaves still attached carry the extra symbolism of longevity and fertility.
Visits to homes during Chinese New Year are usually accompanied by the exchange of Mandarin oranges. The Chinese words for orange sound like “luck” and “wealth”, and it is considered rude to visit anyone's home during Chinese New Year empty handed.
Fresh fruit at the New Year symbolizes life and a new beginning. Sugared ones are a wish for a sweet year. Traditionally, the pomelo, mandarins or what we call the tangerine or clementine, as well as limes, bananas, pineapple, and water or winter melon are seen as temple offerings.
Oranges are believed to bring good luck and prosperity to the recipient. It is also believed that the round shape of the orange represents unity and completeness, while the bright color symbolizes happiness and joy. It goes without saying that if life gives you oranges, consider yourself lucky!
Oranges have long been associated with abundance and fruitfulness, symbolizing prosperity, wealth, fertility, and spiritual nourishment. In many cultures and traditions, the vibrant color and juicy sweetness of oranges embody the bountiful nature of the earth and the richness of life.
Mandarin oranges have always been considered as a traditional symbol of good fortune. This is mainly because the word orange, when spoken in mandarin, sounds similar to the word “wealth”. The orange hue of the fruit is also said to symbolise “gold”, which makes it a very auspicious fruit.
Orange is a color associated with vitality and joy. It can also convey a sense of connection and belonging. Therefore, when you notice an orange orb, you may be encountering a joyful spirit, one that feels connected with you or its status as a ghost, or one with a great deal of creative energy.
Oranges are a popular symbol of good luck. Oranges are also a bright, vibrant color that's associated with good fortune. During Chinese New Year, tangerines and oranges are displayed as decorations and are also exchanged among friends and acquaintances.
In Lunar New Year traditions, revelers believe tangerines, oranges and pomelos bring good fortune. Their Mandarin names echo words with symbolic meanings: "jú" for oranges suggests "good luck" or "fortune," "chéng" for tangerine is akin to "success," and "youzi" for pomelos sounds similar to "have" or "abundance."
One of the most popular Chinese symbols of good luck during Lunar New Year is the Chinese character “fu”. The symbol is often written in black or printed in gold, on a red background. It is said that the symbol brings in positive energy and happiness when hung in homes and in the center of a door.
Congee with Youtiao (Chinese Donuts) Bowls of congee in Beijing are often served with a donut called 油條 (youtiao) that's commonly served at New Year's celebrations. ...
Fruit baskets are also considered to be a thoughtful gift, particularly apples and oranges, as these are associated with fortune and safety. Other popular gifts to give to family members can include a tea set, crockery and electrical goods, especially if they are new homeowners.
Calamondin orange trees are traditionally given as gifts around Chinese New Year, sent as good-luck tokens for a fruitful and abundant year. The word orange sounds like the Chinese word for "wealth" which is where the tradition stems from.
Introduction: My name is Fr. Dewey Fisher, I am a powerful, open, faithful, combative, spotless, faithful, fair person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
