festivals such as New Year's and the Summer Solstice; national holidays, such as Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July; as well as ancient and folkloric days, such as May Day and Halloween. Holidays reflect the history and identity of people of all cultures. The symbols and customs associated with holidays emerge, migrate, undergo transformations, and sometimes fade away. This new revised and expanded edition of Holiday Symbols and Customs provides an introduction to the myriad ways in which people celebrate and the meanings attached to these traditions.

Hide more