Growing up in Canada, mandarin oranges, or Christmas oranges as they are affectionately called, were very much a part of my childhood memories.  The pint-sized orbs fit snugly in my little hands the way no massive naval orange ever could.  They came in those small cardboard boxes, (which now house my Christmas ornaments and look positively vintage after all these years!) individually wrapped in pale green tissue paper.  Each orange was like a miniature gift, a treat to be treasured, but only for a moment before it was juicily devoured.  Now as an adult living in California, oranges in a bewildering array of varieties are as common as can be, and yet never fail to bring me delight every Christmas season.  Each year I seek out the perfect mandarin (this year they are California-grown Satsuma Mandarins from Trader Joe's) eating several a day relishing in the memories of my childhood and also boosting the immune system during this time of tidings, great joy, and germs.  

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