Christmas of Altheamer's son: A Nickel and an Orange

Altheamer was Isaac's son.  This is a response I received from Virginia Hopson on a previous post.  I wonder if this tradition was common for many families at the time; or if there were other Christmas traditions.  

Virginia Hopson Billy, I don't know what Isaac did at Christmas, But my Dad (Atheamer's son) said on a good Christmas they would find an Orange on their plate, and a nickle under it. not so good Christmas's they would be lucky to find a penny under the plate but no Orange. Back in the 90's my daughter and I gave my Dad an up dated Christmas consisting of an Orange on his plate and Fifty cents under his plate.
Virginia