Posted by Robert Dilley on September 24, 1998 at 18:42:02:
In Reply to: Still confused. posted by Bob Hollis on September 24, 1998 at 17:24:15:
A bran tub was (and still may be, for all I know) a barrel or large pail filled with bran (grain husks) or some substitute, in which is planted small toys and other gifts, wrapped for anonymity. The child plunges an arm into the tub, feels around in the bran, and extracts a parcel. From distant memory the end result was usually disappointment (I seemed to get things like a small doll, rather than the water pistol I really wanted). However, the anticipation was enjoyable.