Once upon a time, in a small village, there was a magical orange tree. This tree had the power to grant any wish to the person who picked its fruits. The villagers believed that the tree possessed special powers and would often gather around it to make their wishes. Legend had it that the magical orange tree was a gift from the gods long ago. It was said that it had the ability to bring joy and prosperity to those who believed in its magic. The villagers cherished this tree and treated it with great care.
The villagers cherished this tree and treated it with great care. Every year, during the harvest season, the tree would be adorned with bright and juicy oranges. It was a sight to behold, with its branches laden with luscious fruits.
The Magic Orange Tree
Cric? Crac! This week I told Diane Wolkstein’s story, “The Magic Orange Tree,” in our Page Presents class. It’s the story of a little girl whose stepmother abuses her. The girl often goes hungry, so one day, when her stepmother is out, she cannot resist eating three oranges that are sitting on the table. Oh, how she savors them! But when the stepmother returns and sees that the oranges are missing, she cries, “Whoever has eaten my oranges had better start saying her prayers now, because she will not be able to later!”
Badly frightened, the little girl runs to the place where her mother is buried and weeps until she is worn out. When she gets up with the sun, something falls from her skirt onto the grave. It is an orange pip! As soon as the tiny seed hits the ground, it begins to grow. Delighted, the child begins to sing:
Orange tree,
Grow and grow and grow,
Orange tree,
Grow and grow and grow!
Stepmother is not real mother,
Orange tree.
As the tree grows taller and taller, her song changes to “Branch and branch and branch,” “Flower and flower and flower,” and “Ripen and ripen and ripen.” When the plump oranges appear, she is so excited that she dances around the tree singing “Grow and grow and grow,” and the tree responds by growing up into the clouds! But the resourceful child just changes her song to “Lower and lower and lower,” and the tree obligingly returns to a normal size.
When her stepmother sees the oranges, she grabs the girl and insists that she show her the tree. Then she leaps into the tree and begins picking all the oranges, but the girl sings “Grow and grow and grow,” sending the tree and her stepmother up into the clouds. Then she cries, “Break, orange tree! And the tree (and the stepmother) break into little pieces. The little girl searches among the pieces until she finds an orange pip, and soon a new magic orange tree begins to grow and grow and grow.
I sing the song with a syncopated calypso feel, so Matt taught the kids a clave rhythm:
They practiced clapping the rhythm, and then they learned how to add shakers to the basic rhythm. Then we taught them the “grow and grow and grow” part of the song, and they all chimed in during the story.
After the story, everyone made a magical orange tree. I overheard one little girl lamenting to her mother that her tree did not have a handle. Her mother told her it was because their paper bag came without a handle. I told her, “I can make a handle for you,” and I got a hole punch and some ribbon and voila! her tree had a handle! She was so happy with the handle on her tree that she kept walking around holding it up and peeking out through the handle, which made me realize that the trees were actually bodi-puppets. Silly me, for not seeing her as she really was: a Magic Orange Tree!
As the tree grows taller and taller, her song changes to “Branch and branch and branch,” “Flower and flower and flower,” and “Ripen and ripen and ripen.” When the plump oranges appear, she is so excited that she dances around the tree singing “Grow and grow and grow,” and the tree responds by growing up into the clouds! But the resourceful child just changes her song to “Lower and lower and lower,” and the tree obligingly returns to a normal size.
The villagers would gather around the tree, eagerly waiting for their turn to make a wish. To make a wish, one had to carefully select an orange from the tree. It had to be a perfectly ripe and juicy one. The person would then hold the orange in their hand, close their eyes, and make their wish with all their heart. It was believed that the tree could sense the sincerity and purity of one's intentions. The villagers would come from far and wide to make their wishes. Some wished for good health, others for wealth and success. There were those who wished for love and happiness. The magical orange tree listened to all their wishes without judgement. It was said that the magical orange tree had the power to turn dreams into reality. The villagers would often share stories of how their wishes had come true. They would attribute their good fortune to the blessings of the tree. However, there were those who doubted the power of the tree. They thought it was just a mere coincidence that some wishes came true. But the believers knew better. They knew that it was the magic of the tree that brought them happiness and fulfillment. The magical orange tree became a symbol of hope and inspiration for the villagers. They learned to appreciate the small joys in life and to be grateful for the blessings that came their way. The tree taught them to have faith in themselves and their dreams. As the years went by, the legend of the magical orange tree spread to neighboring villages. People came from all around to make their wishes and experience its magic. The tree became a famous tourist attraction, attracting visitors from far and wide. Until this day, the magical orange tree continues to bring joy and happiness to all who believe in its magic. It serves as a reminder that dreams can come true if we have faith and believe in ourselves. The magical orange tree will forever remain a symbol of hope and inspiration for those who seek it..
Reviews for "Orange Blossoms: Unveiling the Romance and Symbolism"
1. Alex - ⭐
I found "The Magic Orange Tree" to be incredibly boring and uninteresting. The plot was lackluster and predictable, and the characters were flat and unrelatable. The writing style was also quite tedious, with excessive descriptions that added nothing to the story. Overall, I was extremely disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging and thought-provoking read.
2. Sarah - ⭐⭐
"The Magic Orange Tree" felt disjointed and confusing. The events of the story seemed random and didn't flow well, making it difficult to follow the plot. Additionally, the characters lacked depth and development, leaving me feeling disconnected from their struggles and triumphs. The author's attempt at creating a magical and fantastical world fell flat as it lacked coherence and believability. Overall, I found this book to be a letdown and struggled to keep my interest until the end.
3. Mark - ⭐⭐⭐
While "The Magic Orange Tree" had an interesting premise, I felt it failed to deliver on its potential. The pacing was slow, and the story seemed to drag on without much development. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to invest in their journey. Additionally, the writing style was often overly verbose and convoluted, making it hard to follow and connect with the narrative. Overall, I was left underwhelmed by this book and would only recommend it to readers who have a high tolerance for slow-paced, meandering stories.
4. Lisa - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I appreciated the creativity behind "The Magic Orange Tree," but ultimately, it wasn't for me. The narrative felt too whimsical and disjointed, making it challenging to fully engage with the story. The characters lacked depth and their motivations were unclear, leaving me feeling detached from their experiences. While some readers may enjoy the magical elements and the unique world-building, I struggled to connect with the overall story. However, I do recognize the author's imaginative storytelling and believe it may appeal to a specific niche of readers who enjoy experimental narratives.