If there is a companion plant to the evergreen that is so characteristic of this time of year, it must be the orange or one of its immediate relatives: the tangerine, the clementine, the mandarin, or even the citron or grapefruit.
The combination of pine with citrus is familiar in Japanese New Year's decorations, of course. And because tangerines and clementines are winter fruits, they brighten up the white or gray days of chilly winter with their zesty color, scent and flavor. From a purely aesthetic point of view, the vivid orange hue of these fruits is perfectly complemented by the deep green of the pine. Festive, beautiful and delicious, the citrus fruits are like generous New Year blessings: Just looking at them lifts the spirits.
To discover the seasonal spirit of citrus, there are lots of things you can try. There are many uses in natural medicine and beauty for citrus fruits and their derivatives. While the whole fruits are beneficial, the essential oils or the dried blossoms or rinds of these fruits are also used traditionally in folk medicine in many parts of the world.
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