Orange Fruit Symbolism Facts & Literature: Astrology, Omens, Dreams, and Legends
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Orange Fruit Symbolism & Meaning
For centuries and throughout many cultures, oranges have been thought to be symbols of good luck, often given to others as gifts to wish them goodwill and fortune. It is also a symbol of prosperity and wealth for those with orange trees are considered to be most fortunate.
Like most citrus fruits, oranges are associated with happiness and joy because of their freshness and vibrant color. These fruits are also linked to warmth and vibrancy due to their resemblance to the sun.
Oranges are also symbols of generosity and kindness for a single tree’s bountiful harvest.
Other associations of oranges are close relationships, community, unity, and being complete for its round shape and because orange trees are common gathering places for groups.
The orange fruit is also regarded as a symbol of fertility and purity because of its white blossoms, associating them with fertility deities and figures like the Virgin Mary.
The Orange Bank & Trust Company is an independent US bank first established in 1892 in New York. Their emblem is eight orange triangles arranged in a circle, resembling the orange fruit and its segments.
The Orange Company is a UK-based furniture company that blends function and sophistication for its customers. Established in 1997, their emblem is the letter “O” with the color orange and a green leaf on top.
The Orange Group is a Nigerian-based company that deals with consumer goods, bringing pharmaceuticals, personal care, and food & beverages across West Africa. Their emblem is a silhouette of two oranges side by side.
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Orange Fruit Positive & Negative Symbolism
The orange fruit is surrounded by many positive symbolism such as purity, generosity, belonging, kindness, and happiness. These virtues given to the citrus fruit are because of its flavor, colors, and shape.
On the other hand, oranges are also associated with negative symbolism which includes impatience, arrogance, pride, and unwanted attention due to their bright vibrant color.
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Orange Fruit Origin
Oranges are a domesticated species of citrus fruits first developed from domesticating wild citruses. These oranges originated in a region that encompasses the Southeastern foothills of the Himalayas, Northern Myanmar, Eastern India, and Western China. There the sweet oranges we know today were developed.
The earliest written record of these sweet oranges first appeared in Ancient Chinese literature dating back to 314 BC.
Oranges were introduced to the Arab world as early as the 10th century and it was spread to other nearby regions reaching the Iberian peninsula during the Arab Agricultural Revolution.
In the 16th century, oranges were introduced to the Mediterranean by Italian and Portuguese merchants. Oranges were spread across Europe as a desirable fruit to symbolize a family’s wealth.
Oranges were then first brought to the New World by European explorers in the late 1400s when Christopher Columbus brought orange seeds to the island of Hispaniola. Spanish conquistadors would later introduce the citrus fruit to South America and Mexico.
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Orange Fruit Cultural Symbolism
In China, oranges are among the most common fruits to offer as gifts to friends and families during the Chinese Lunar New Year to wish them good luck and good fortune for the rest of the year. Oranges are also given as gifts during special occasions and weddings.
The Chinese also offer oranges on altes during festivals or holidays, specifically the Ching Ming Festival or Tomb Sweeping Day.
Likewise in Japan, oranges are given to friends and loved ones to symbolize wishing them good luck and good fortune, especially during the holidays and the new year. They are also offered to altars and shrines.
In Vietnam, oranges are also popular gifts given to friends and family members during the Tet holiday or the Vietnamese Lunar New Year.
In the Philippines, oranges are commonly displayed on the dining table along with other round fruits during the holidays as they symbolize good luck and fortune.
In Tahiti, the Orange Festival is an annual celebration for men to embark on a journey to retrieve a load of oranges on foot. This journey includes hiking through natural terrain to symbolize their connection with nature, strength, and bravery.
The orange blossoms are associated with fertility and purity, often linking the white blossoms with the Virgin Mary and to fertility goddesses such as Venus or Aphrodite.
In 17th-century Europe, oranges were symbols of opulence, luxury, and wealth for they were considered exotic fruits from the Far East. The Palace of Versailles has its orangeries to display its obscene wealth further.
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Orange Fruit in Art and Literature
Zhao Lingrang, the ancient Chinese painter created the fan painting featuring yellow oranges and green tangerines during the Song Dynasty.
Oranges were featured in the background of the famous Arnolfini Portrait by the Flemish painter Jan van Eyck, created in 1434.
Sandro Botticelli’s Primavera, created in the late 1470s to early 1480s, is in an orange grove with orange fruits seen on the trees.
Vincent van Gogh frequently studied citrus fruits in his artworks, notably featuring the fruits in his still life painting Oranges and Lemons with Blue Gloves in 1889.
The American poet published the poem Oranges in Poetry magazine’s 1983 June issue.
Oranges are prominently used as symbols of the protagonist’s mother in the novel Oranges are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson, first published in 1985.
The English author, Virginia Woolf is notably fond of oranges and writes protagonists to love oranges in her novels, specifically in Orlando.
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Orange Favorite Fruit: Traits and Personality
If oranges are your favorite fruit, this could mean that you are often described as friendly, warm, charismatic, and reliable. You are a determined person in your work and like to be surrounded by loved ones.
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Orange Fruit in Astrology or Zodiac
Oranges are most beneficial to the zodiac sign Gemini. The Gemini’s duality reflects that of the orange’s sweet and bitter species, and the fruit will help Geminis get in touch with their inner self.
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Orange Fruit in Dreams
Dreaming of oranges could indicate that the dreamer is about to be filled with enthusiasm and energy to go on a creative endeavor. They may also be ready to let go of negativity and frustration to live a more content life.
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Orange Fruit Omens and Superstitions
According to superstition, gifting someone orange fruits will help with making them fall in love with the gift giver.
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Orange Fruit Legends, Mythology, and Folklore
In Greek mythology, the golden apples in the garden of Hesperides are disputed to actually be oranges.
