AS a child, there was something so exciting about the mystery bumps and curves of my stuffed Christmas stocking, tinged with the anticipation of reaching in my hand and pulling out all the tightly packed treats. However, one thing never changed: at the very bottom, pressed into the toe, there was always a familiar plump little bulge: a sweet, juicy satsuma.
Nothing looks and smells more like Christmas than orange zest and spices, from delicate slices of dried orange woven into door wreaths and tree decorations to Christingles burning brightly in church. It might seem baffling that this non-native species should be such a key component of a British Christmas, but mix a bit of folklore in with some history and the picture becomes clearer.
According to one legend, the shiny clementines so many children find in their stockings on Christmas morning owe their existence to the legend of the philanthropist St Nicholas, who evolved into the modern-day Santa Claus. These orange orbs recall the gold he tossed down the chimney of a family in need, and which tumbled into the children's stockings hung there to dry.
This association between orange-skinned citrus fruits and Christmas may be up to 400 years old, from when oranges first appeared in British kitchens. Originating in the Far East, it's thought that the sweet-eating orange as opposed to the bitter Seville-didn't reach the Mediterranean until the 15th century, thriving in the warm Spanish climate for a century or so until transportation became efficient enough for the oranges, packed in straw, to reach northern Europe without perishing.
Ripening in November after a summer of sun, these cheerful-looking fruits brought a little brightness into the dark winter months. It is their seasonality that best explains their association with the festive period, as well as their rarity at the time, which meant that they tended to be saved for special occasions.
Denne historien er fra December 13 - 20, 2023 (Double Issue)-utgaven av Country Life UK.
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Denne historien er fra December 13 - 20, 2023 (Double Issue)-utgaven av Country Life UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Kitchen garden cook - Apples
'Sweet and crisp, apples are the epitome of autumn flavour'
The original Mr Rochester
Three classic houses in North Yorkshire have come to the market; the owner of one inspired Charlotte Brontë to write Jane Eyre
Get it write
Desks, once akin to instruments of torture for scribes, have become cherished repositories of memories and secrets. Matthew Dennison charts their evolution
'Sloes hath ben my food'
A possible paint for the Picts and a definite culprit in tea fraud, the cheek-suckingly sour sloe's spiritual home is indisputably in gin, says John Wright
Souvenirs of greatness
FOR many years, some large boxes have been stored and forgotten in the dark recesses of the garage. Unpacked last week, the contents turned out to be pots: some, perhaps, nearing a century old—dense terracotta, of interesting provenance.
Plants for plants' sake
The garden at Hergest Croft, Herefordshire The home of Edward Banks The Banks family is synonymous with an extraordinary collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are presents from distinguished friends, garnered over two centuries. Be prepared to be amazed, says Charles Quest-Ritson
Capturing the castle
Seventy years after Christian Dior’s last fashion show in Scotland, the brand returned under creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri for a celebratory event honouring local craftsmanship, the beauty of the land and the Auld Alliance, explains Kim Parker
Nature's own cathedral
Our tallest native tree 'most lovely of all', the stately beech creates a shaded environment that few plants can survive. John Lewis-Stempel ventures into the enchanted woods
All that money could buy
A new book explores the lost riches of London's grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages
In with the old
Diamonds are meant to sparkle in candlelight, but many now gather dust in jewellery boxes. To wear them today, we may need to reimagine them, as Hetty Lintell discovers with her grandmother's jewellery
