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Happy Valentine’s Day! And prosperity, happiness, and good health to you as we usher in the Year of the Dragon.

What are some signs of good fortune to mark Lunar New Year?

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A.

One of the most commonly offered symbols of good fortune and abundance is the orange, particularly of the clementine variety.

Our lucky oranges come in the form of beautiful paintings.

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Ryūryūkyo Shinsai. Orange, Dried Persimmons, Herring-Roe and Different Nuts; Food Used for the Celebration of the New Year. Met Museum. 19th Century

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Rafael Romero Barros. Still life with oranges. 1863

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Francisco de Zurbarán. Still Life with Lemons, Oranges and Rose. 1632

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Henri Matisse. The Peppermint Bottle. 1893-95

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Paul Gauguin. Still Life with Tahitian Oranges. 1892.

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Bartolomeo Bimbi. Oranges, Limes, Lemons and Citrus Lumia. 1715

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Jacob van Hulsdonck. Still Life with Lemons, Oranges and a Pomegranate. ~1620-40

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Fernando Botero. Oranges. 1973

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Here’s to a wonderful Year of the Dragon for you!

www.justcurious.ca

Header Art: William McCloskey. Wrapped Oranges. 1897