Whatzit?

[MurphOnMillerAve]

These are, certainly, intelligent replies. However, the precise nature of the contents of the bag is only a detail of the story.

Was it given as a gift by some VIP, like General MacArthur?

Doubtful. But interesting.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Oh my darling clementine. Hanging some stockings by the chimney with care?

No stockings. No chimneys. But the "hanging" part has possibilities.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, money was tight, and many families simply didn’t have the means to buy gifts. Instead, it was such a treat, even a luxury, to find things like a sweet orange or some walnuts in your stocking on Christmas.

That's very true. I experienced it myself, but not with any particular joy. I do recall, being a War Baby, the occasional such fruit and a walnut or three in my hanging stockings. Then, we moved forward to more possibilities, it seemed, and felt.

That is not related to this Whatzit? however, in my presentation... to be expanded presently.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Another explanation for the tradition of placing an orange is a stocking stretches back hundreds of years to St. Nicholas, who was born in what is now present-day Turkey. He inherited a large sum of money, but devoted his life to helping others, and eventually became a bishop.

According to the story, St. Nicholas learned of a poor man who wasn’t able to find suitors for his three daughters because he didn’t have money for a dowry. St. Nicholas traveled to the house, and tossed three sacks of gold down the chimney for each of the dowries. The gold happened to land in each of the girls’ stockings which were hanging by the fire to dry. The oranges we receive today are a symbol of the gold that was left in the stockings.

Thank you, very much, for sharing that story here on the occasion of my little Whatzit? for today. Now, I am almost embarrassed to give you guyz the next hint...but I will...

[webenda]

Mrs. Murph's new hat?

[Roy]

Carmen Miranda's regular hat?

[HONDO74]

Judging by the shape they look like a pear of some type.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Judging by the shape they look like a pear of some type.

They don't look like Royal Riviera Pears,

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Mrs. Murph's new hat?

Maaaaaybeeee.

[HONDO74]

Judging by the shape they look like a pear of some type.

They don't look like Royal Riviera Pears,

Maybe a Red Wine Poached pear.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Carmen Miranda's regular hat?

You and Wayne are very close.. .just about there, in fact...

[chuck]

OK, It's a head dress. Apparently they do grow citrus in South Africa. I'm not as enamored of a bag of fruit on someones head as the press was. Beautiful model, pretty outfit, even the head dress is nice. Bag of fruit?

[MurphOnMillerAve]

OK, It's a head dress.

Yup.
...and remarkably so, I felt.

[chuck]

Is there more info coming on the B&W short line photo or is that done?

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Is there more info coming on the B&W short line photo or is that done?

I posted all that I had come across, but it was nice to see other forum voices add further perspectives on it.