Why is peeling an orange the ultimate love language? (2024)

For a creative writing exercise in college, our professor made us bring an orange to class. “Describe its exact colour, its texture, write about the way it feels in your mouth,” he said. “Is it more sour or sweet? Does it leave your hands sticky?” For some unknown reason, writers and poets have long been drawn to the symbol of oranges. In Jeanette Winterson’s novel Oranges are Not the Only Fruit (1985), they are a recurring motif representing heterosexuality. In the 1992 poem The Orange, Wendy Cope writes about sharing an orange with two friends: “And that orange it made me so happy / as ordinary things often do.” In one of my favourite poems, also titled Oranges, Jean Little writes: “When Emily peels an orange, she tears holes in it / Juice squirts in all directions / “Kate,” she says, “I don’t know how you do it!” / Emily is my best friend / I hope she never learns how to peel oranges.”

As the internet joins writers in their obsession with oranges, the orange peel theory, which originated on Tiktok, presents a simple question: would your partner peel an orange for you? Of course, it is not too much to ask for. If anything—many have pointed out—it is the bare minimum. Peeling an orange takes about two minutes and requires no sacrifice or trouble. So, why is the internet flooded with videos of people scrambling to ask their partners to peel an orange (some of which, surprisingly, end badly)?

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Why is peeling an orange the ultimate love language? (2024)

FAQs

What does peeling oranges mean in love? ›

Out of the five love languages, peeling an orange is an act of service: a gesture that the other person would appreciate because it makes their life a little easier. It is a reminder that love is not always about grand gestures, chasing trains or throwing huge surprise parties.

What is the orange peel theory of love? ›

02/6Orange Peel Theory

According to it, a person can test their partner's love by asking them to do something as simple as peeling an orange for them. If their partner agrees and does this, it shows that they are loved. But in case the partner refuses, it means that the relationship is doomed.

What is the orange theory of love language? ›

The psychology behind the Orange Peel Theory has been linked to love languages - specifically Acts of Service. It's related to the idea that your partner wants to do this act of service for you just because they care about you. They know you want an orange, so they want to make it easy for you to enjoy one.

What is the orange peel question? ›

The challenge calls for participants to ask their partner to peel an orange for them. If their significant other says yes, that means they are willing to help with small tasks. If they say no, it might signal they are less likely to offer support throughout the relationship, the theory suggests.

What do oranges mean in love? ›

"In love, orange can symbolize strong attraction, fiery passion, and a deep longing for connection," Pamplona tells mindbodygreen. Orange represents creativity and possibility, with Pamplona explaining that with the color orange and love, "There is an energy of playfulness [...] and we are open to trying new things."

What is the orange peel effect in a relationship? ›

The idea runs thus: if your partner loves you, they will perform small tasks for you that you are perfectly capable of doing yourself, almost as an act of service. One such task being, for example, peeling an orange for you, because you don't like doing it.

What is the orange peel theory in psychology? ›

He said, “The orange peel theory focuses on the idea that small acts of service are not just about the action itself but about what it represents in the relationship.” He also added, “They signal care, love and commitment, and the repetition of the act enhances the overall health and happiness of the relationship.

What is the orange theory in relationships? ›

In a recent video, TikToker @neanotmia explained the theory as the ability to discern how much you can trust your partner by seeing how they react to you asking them to do a small task you could easily do yourself — like peeling an orange.

What is the orange peel theory for guys? ›

But it is a good way to get views! Why are women asking their male partners to peel their oranges? Welcome to the “orange peel theory”: the idea that asking your partner to perform the small task of peeling an orange is one way to test their appreciation and love.

What is the orange peel relationship test? ›

The gist: If your partner strips the rind off the citrus and serves it to you with kindness, then their love is for real. If your partner refuses, then this love is hollow and false, and you must now make a deal with a sea witch or reenter the dating pool.

What is the orange peel theory with friends? ›

Often there a different trends relating to relationships, and the latest one to go viral is the orange peel theory. It's basically where an orange represents a small albeit random favour to ask someone to peel the fruit, but what it reveals is whether you trust a person with more serious issues.

What is the meaning of peeling orange? ›

These days, peeling an orange is going around social media as a heartfelt expression of love and appreciation. If someone is willing to peel an orange for you, the simple act could indicate a loving relationship. It's nothing new, of course.

How do you test the orange peel theory on your boyfriend? ›

The idea behind this is that if you ask your partner to peel an orange for you and they say yes, it means that they have a positive attitude toward you and the relationship as a whole.

What is the orange peel analogy? ›

It originated in a slideshow of screenshots between exes, one of whom reminisces how “I miss when you would peel my oranges for me in the morning”. There is some sense to this analysis, since the smallest of acts carry a lot of weight in relationships whilst grand gestures can sometimes feel performative.

What does giving oranges to someone mean? ›

They are not only used as decorations, but given as gifts when visiting family and friends as a symbol of sharing abundance and good fortune. Mandarin oranges, often called Christmas oranges, are also a Christmas tradition in Canada, the United States, and Russia. The tradition quickly spread eastward.

Are oranges the fruit of love? ›

Frontispiece to Giovanni Battista Ferrari, Hesperides (1646). “… Venus's fruit is the golden apple, the Orange, because the experience of love is both bitter and sweet.” Venus, the goddess of love, also plays a crucial role in this origin story.

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