The Book of the Year : A Brief History of Our Seasonal Holidays

What is the connection between May Day and the Statue of Liberty? Between ancient solstice fires and Fourth of July fireworks? Between St. Valentine, the Groundhog, and the Virgin Mary? Why do people behave so bawdily during Mardi Gras? How has the significance and celebration of Christmas changed over the centuries? In The Book of the Year, Anthony Aveni offers fascinating answers to these questions and explains the many ways humans throughout time have tried to order and give meaning to time's passing. Aveni traces the origins of modern customs tied to seasonal holidays, exploring what we eat (the egg at Easter, chocolate on St. Valentine's Day), the games we play (bobbing for apples on Halloween, football on Thanksgiving), the rituals we perform (dancing around the Maypole, making New Year's resolutions), and the colorful cast of characters we invent to dramatize holidays (Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the witches and goblins of Halloween). Along the way, Aveni illuminates everything from the Jack 'O Lantern and our faith in the predictive power of animals to the ways in which Labor Day reflects the great medieval "time wars," when the newly invented clock first pitted labor against management. The calendar and its holidays, Aveni writes, function as "a kind of metronome that keeps the beat of human activity tuned to the manifold overlapping cycles of life," to the ebb and flow of birth, growth, decay, and death. Vividly written, filled with facts both curious and astonishing, this engrossing book allows us to hear that beat more clearly and to understand more fully the rhythms we all dance to throughout the year. What Is The Connection Between May Day And The Statue Of Liberty? Between Ancient Solstice Fires And Fourth Of July Fireworks? Between St. Valentine, The Groundhog, And The Virgin Mary? Why Do People Behave So Bawdily During Mardi Gras? How Has The Significance And Celebration Of Christmas Changed Over The Centuries? In The Book Of The Year, Anthony Aveni Offers Fascinating Answers To These Questions And Explains The Many Ways Humans Throughout Time Have Tried To Order And Give Meaning To Time's Passing. Aveni Traces The Origins Of Modern Customs Tied To Seasonal Holidays, Exploring What We Eat (the Egg At Easter, Chocolate On St. Valentine's Day), The Games We Play (bobbing For Apples On Halloween, Football On Thanksgiving), The Rituals We Perform (dancing Around The Maypole, Making New Year's Resolutions), And The Colorful Cast Of Characters We Invent To Dramatize Holidays (santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, The Witches And Goblins Of Halloween). Along The Way, Aveni Illuminates Everything From The Jack-o'-lantern And Our Faith In The Predictive Power Of Animals To The Ways In Which Labor Day Reflects The Great Medieval Time Wars, When The Newly Invented Clock First Pitted Labor Against Management. The Calendar And Its Holidays, Aveni Writes, Function As A Kind Of Metronome That Keeps The Beat Of Human Activity Tuned To The Manifold Overlapping Cycles Of Life, To The Ebb And Flow Of Birth, Growth, Decay, And Death.--jacket. Creating, Organizing, And Transforming The Holidays -- Happy New Year! But Why Now? -- February's Holidays : Prediction, Purification, And Passionate Pursuit -- Spring Equinox : Watching The Serpent Descend -- The Easter/passover Season : Connecting Time's Broken Circle -- May Day : A Collision Of Forces -- Summer's Solstice : Feasts Of Fire, Water, And Feminine Affairs Of The Heart -- Labor Day : Remembering The Great Time Wars -- Halloween : Dead Time -- Thanksgiving : Transcending Pilgrims' Progress -- Christmas : From Resurrection To Rudolph -- What Goes Around ... Anthony F. Aveni. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [177]-181) And Index. What is the connection between May Day and the Statue of Liberty? Between ancient solstice fires and Fourth of July fireworks? Between St. Valentine, the Groundhog, and the Virgin Mary? In The Book of the Year, Anthony Aveni offers fascinating answers to these questions and explains the many ways humans throughout time have tried to order and give meaning to time's passing. Aveni traces the origins of modern customs tied to seasonal holidays, exploring what we eat, the games we play, the rituals we perform, and the colorful cast of characters we invent to dramatize holidays. Along the way, Aveni illuminates everything from the Jack 'O Lantern and our faith in the predictive power of animals to the ways in which Labor Day reflects the great medieval "time wars," when the newly invented clock first pitted labor against management. Vividly written, filled with facts both curious and astonishing, this engrossing book allows us to hear that beat more clearly and to understand more fully the rhythms we all dance to throughout the year. Contents......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 11 Preface......Page 12 1 Creating, Organizing, and Transforming the Holidays......Page 18 2 Happy New Year! But Why Now?......Page 28 3 February’s Holidays: Prediction, Purification, and Passionate Pursuit......Page 46 4 Spring Equinox: Watching the Serpent Descend......Page 64 5 The Easter/Passover Season: Connecting Time’s Broken Circle......Page 80 6 May Day: A Collision of Forces......Page 96 7 Summer’s Solstice: Feasts of Fire, Water, and Feminine Affairs of the Heart......Page 108 8 Labor Day: Remembering the Great Time Wars......Page 140 9 Halloween: Dead Time......Page 152 10 Thanksgiving: Transcending Pilgrims’ Progress......Page 168 11 Christmas: From Resurrection to Rudolph......Page 182 12 “What Goes Around . . .”......Page 198 Notes......Page 204 References......Page 210 B......Page 216 C......Page 217 E......Page 218 G......Page 219 K......Page 220 M......Page 221 P......Page 222 S......Page 223 T......Page 224 Z......Page 225 An engaging, entertaining reference to modern holidays explains the origins of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, witches, and St. Valentine's Day as it discusses holiday traditions, celebrations, customs, and more The schedule of rituals that we call our calendar emanates from the vast differences among the seasons that we all experience.