Valentine's Day

"It was always hard to be a shy new girl, but today it was especially hard for Janice, because the fifth grade was having its Valentine party. What if there were no valentines for her in the big red Valentine Box? She had pasted and colored valentines for boys and girls in her class, and she hoped they would become her friends, but she hadn't made any real friends yet. Janice wished she could stay home, but of course she couldn't. Then, on the way...

This book explores how five of America's culturally dominant holidays -- Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, and Thanksgiving -- came to be what they are today, combinations of seasonal and religious celebrations heavily influenced by modern popular culture. Distilling information from a wide range of sources, Bruce David Forbes reveals the often surprising history behind the traditions of each holiday. The book offers a look at the Christian...