Fertility Goddesses, Groundhog Bellies and the Coca-Cola Company - The Origins of Modern Holidays (Paperback)

Year after year, many of us perform holiday rituals with little or no understanding of what they mean or what purpose they serve. How and why did these special days originate? Why do we observe Groundhog Day, and what does it have to do with the Virgin Mary and menstruation? What connects May Day and Roman prostitutes? Where did Valentine's Day come from - did the greeting card, chocolate, and florist companies create it, or is there something original, pure, and maybe even carnal about it? This book explores why humans have a need to mark certain days of the year, and uncovers the roots of our modern holiday rituals. Author Gabriella Kalapos digs through mythology, history, politics, and psychology to discover the elusive origins and meanings of many of our favourite celebrations. She connects them to the cycles of nature and the human psyche, and reveals how these holidays have been changed and manipulated over time to serve certain religious, political, and/or commercial causes.