A pleasing offering to the gods
April 5, 2013 8:41 PM Subscribe
Long story short, I'd like to know how to burn an orange. Any suggestions?
Ok. I don't think I'll actually do this, but I'm curious, and would like to know how. Here's the long, rambly, roundabout story:
I'll briefly be in Salinas this summer, and would like to pay my respects to John Steinbeck, the god of literature. Obviously, the proper tribute is a burnt offering. A little lost turtle crossing the road? A strawberry that doesn't taste like they used to? A thigh that has lost its clutch? Little bunnies and buxom blondes? After careful deliberation and about three margaritas, I figured an orange would be the right choice, because I cried the first time I read that chapter (and all the other ideas were either lame or inhumane. Unfortunately, I won't be there long enough to wait for it to rot, so I'll have to settle for its burning).
Oranges, I realized, are theoretically difficult to burn. I've never tried burning one, but they are usually pretty wet, and wet things in my experience don't burn easily. I'm perplexed, and my google-fu is failing me. So I'm turning to you, oh hivemind!
How can I burn an orange?
Ok. I don't think I'll actually do this, but I'm curious, and would like to know how. Here's the long, rambly, roundabout story:
I'll briefly be in Salinas this summer, and would like to pay my respects to John Steinbeck, the god of literature. Obviously, the proper tribute is a burnt offering. A little lost turtle crossing the road? A strawberry that doesn't taste like they used to? A thigh that has lost its clutch? Little bunnies and buxom blondes? After careful deliberation and about three margaritas, I figured an orange would be the right choice, because I cried the first time I read that chapter (and all the other ideas were either lame or inhumane. Unfortunately, I won't be there long enough to wait for it to rot, so I'll have to settle for its burning).
Oranges, I realized, are theoretically difficult to burn. I've never tried burning one, but they are usually pretty wet, and wet things in my experience don't burn easily. I'm perplexed, and my google-fu is failing me. So I'm turning to you, oh hivemind!
How can I burn an orange?
Coincidentally, my friends showed me this video of lighting a fire with an orange just last night.
posted by jacalata at 8:44 PM on April 5, 2013
posted by jacalata at 8:44 PM on April 5, 2013
We used to peel oranges to eat and then squeezed the rind so that the oil misted out of the rind into a flame. It sparked and (I can't smell) apparently smelled good.
posted by vegartanipla at 8:46 PM on April 5, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by vegartanipla at 8:46 PM on April 5, 2013 [2 favorites]
My daughter just made candles out of clementines last week. Rind, a bit of olive oil, lighting it and was done. You could do severeral in your tribute, easily. Good luck.
posted by pearlybob at 9:32 PM on April 5, 2013
posted by pearlybob at 9:32 PM on April 5, 2013
Oranges are pretty darn flammable, but they are also juicy. A dried out orange would burn pretty well if you gave it enough heat.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 9:59 PM on April 5, 2013
posted by The Light Fantastic at 9:59 PM on April 5, 2013
Make a bonfire. Throw the orange in. It will burn.
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 10:00 PM on April 5, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 10:00 PM on April 5, 2013 [3 favorites]
The essential oils in the rind will burn nicely, and the rind itself will burn quite well too if dried out first. The pulp contains a lot of liquid though, so you'll probably want to dry it out in slices in a low oven first, like pot-pourri makers do.
posted by Solomon at 1:43 AM on April 6, 2013
posted by Solomon at 1:43 AM on April 6, 2013
I think you should eat the orange (you can work up some symbolism about participating in the sacrifice or becoming One with Steinbeck's essence or something more directly from the books) and then burn the peels. If you are out in a park, you could light a fire in a barbecue grill using wood or charcoal, then put the peels on once the fire is steady. I think they would burn even if they are not dried out.
(Check the area for Burn Bans - I know we have one in TX right now and summer is even more likely for drought)
posted by CathyG at 8:06 AM on April 6, 2013
(Check the area for Burn Bans - I know we have one in TX right now and summer is even more likely for drought)
posted by CathyG at 8:06 AM on April 6, 2013
That chapter does say they sprayed the oranges with kerosene first (but having some experience with that fuel, I must point out that igniting a paraffin-soaked orange at room temperature wouldn't be easy).
posted by Rash at 11:34 AM on April 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Rash at 11:34 AM on April 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
I live near Salinas and have visted the grave fairly often. I'm not sure that burning (at the cemetary) would be a great plan. The site is watched pretty carefully by the caretakers, is very public and often very busy. That being said, I know quite a few people bring/leave tequila, sea shells, writing/poetry and pennies at the site. I have quite a few photographs of various items that I've seen left there over the last year or so that I've lived in the area, if you are curious (or want other suggestions of places to visit in the area or that are related to Steinbeck) feel free to memail me!
posted by AnneShirley at 12:17 AM on April 7, 2013
posted by AnneShirley at 12:17 AM on April 7, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
Just Google Search: DIY Candle from Orange
posted by Crystalinne at 8:43 PM on April 5, 2013