There are several stories about the origins of this tradition. One is that the oranges symbolize sacks of gold that St. Nicholas left for the daughters of a poor man. According to the story, St. Nicholas tossed the sacks down the chimney, and they landed in the stockings that had been left out to dry by the fire. It’s also possible that the oranges started out as a sweet treat given by families that couldn’t afford more lavish gifts during the Great Depression. Either way, oranges are a lovely, traditional stocking stuffer that you can easily divide up among your family members or friends on Christmas day!