As one of the most important aspects of the Spring
Festival, food is integral to a healthy, happy new year in Chinese tradition,
many with auspicious and symbolic meanings, either because of the appearance of
the food or the pronunciation of its Chinese name.
In South China, especially the Guangdong area, oranges and tangerines are the
"lucky" fruits and the best presents during the Spring Festival season as the
Chinese words for oranges and tangerines, "ju", sound like luck and wealth.
Oranges and tangerines are not only the favorite for the children. When
people go to pay New Year calls to relatives and friends, it is a custom to
bring with them a basket of red oranges or tangerines. They are also propitious
presents that can help dissolve the misunderstanding between friends and
neighbors.
It is said if the oranges or tangerines have leaves intact at the pedicel, it
symbolizes long lasting relationships; while a fruitful and exuberant orange
tree symbolizes having plentiful offspring.
