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The Hidden History of Holidays

By: Hannah Harvey, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Hannah Harvey
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Publisher's summary

What are the origins of dressing in costume for Halloween? Why did the barbecue grill become an iconic image for Father’s Day?

From Halloween costumes to patriotic parades to belly-busting meals, every holiday tradition tells a unique story—one encoded in symbols and layered meanings that stretch back over the centuries. In 19 lectures, professional storyteller Dr. Hannah B. Harvey takes listeners through the seasons and investigates the surprising stories behind seemingly odd holiday traditions. Dr. Harvey explores the social, political, and performative history of holidays, ranging from Hanukkah and Mardi Gras to Mother’s Day and Thanksgiving, illustrating the way traditions survive across time and cultures.

In these fascinating lectures, Dr. Harvey turns the spotlight on the histories of American and international holidays, and listeners will discover the answers to such questions as:

  • How did Charles Dickens and Queen Victoria save Christmas from disappearing into obscurity in the 19th century?
  • Why is "Auld Lang Syne" considered the "official" song of New Year’s celebrations?
  • How did the iconic masculine images of fishing rods, barbecue grills, and lying in hammocks become synonymous with Father’s Day?
  • Why should we thank ancient Rome’s Romulus and Remus for Valentine’s Day?
  • To what cultures do we owe such loveable creatures as Easter bunnies and spring-predicting groundhogs?
  • Why did Puritans seek to stamp out Christmas celebrations in America?
  • How are the ancient Roman festival of Hilaria and today’s April Fool’s Day alike?

The Hidden History of Holidays is an eye-opening and entertaining look at what makes these festive celebrations so pervasive and powerful. By the end of these lectures, listeners will never think about greeting cards, broomsticks, or barbecues in the same way again.

©2019 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC.
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Our favorite moments from The Hidden History of the Holidays

Chapter Three – Lecture Two
  • Chapter Three – Lecture Two
Christmas
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Chapter Fourteen – Lecture Thirteen
  • Chapter Fourteen – Lecture Thirteen
Mother's Day
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Chapter Nineteen – Lecture Eighteen
  • Chapter Nineteen – Lecture Eighteen
Halloween
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  • Chapter Three – Lecture Two
  • Christmas
  • Chapter Fourteen – Lecture Thirteen
  • Mother's Day
  • Chapter Nineteen – Lecture Eighteen
  • Halloween
.

About the Professor

Dr. Hannah B. Harvey is an award-winning teacher, an internationally recognized performer, and a nationally known professional storyteller. She earned her PhD in Performance Studies/Communication Studies at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While teaching at Kennesaw State University, she received an Honors Program Distinguished Teacher award and an Alumni Association Commendation for Teaching Impact. As a performance ethnographer, Dr. Harvey develops oral histories into theatrical and solo storytelling works that highlight the true stories of contemporary Appalachian people. Her performance, Out of the Dark: The Oral Histories of Appalachian Coal Miners, earned her a directing award from adjudicators at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in 2007 and three year-end awards from professional critics in 2005. Harvey’s written research has been honored by the American Folklore Society and has been featured in Storytelling, Self, and Society, of which she is managing editor.

Dr. Harvey has delivered award-winning performances and has conducted workshops at festivals and universities in the United States and around the world. She has performed as a featured teller at the National Storytelling Festival in Tennessee; received accolades for her performances at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland; and led intercultural workshops at the University Hassan II, Ben M’Sik, in Casablanca, Morocco.

What listeners say about The Hidden History of Holidays

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent & knowledgeable look at origins of major holidays

Hannah does an amazing performance of material. This is lecture series is very detailed yet the delivery of material is entertaining. This will be one I repeatedly listen to in the future especially at the particular holidays referenced.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Storytelling

Great selection of holidays and associated information. A top notch story teller that keeps you engaged from the first to last word.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Elaborate

Very informative.
It only got 3 stars from me because I am not American, so some of the holidays were less engaging.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Educational and cultural

The performance was amazing, insightful and entertaining. The author really provided sush wonderful explanations in a most delightful way.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful!

The material, the delivery, and the overall just learning what I didn’t know was great! I recommend this for age groups. I loved it. I wish it were a pod cast to recommend to my friends.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So interesting!

Wonderful diving into all the historic origins and cultural developments! My only query is: what happened to Veterans Day? At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, WW I, the Great War (that was supposed to "end all wars") ended. It was called Armistice Day until 1954, then became Veterans Day. I think it's fine for Memorial Day to include all those family who've died, as well as fallen military members. But please, let's make sure that Veterans Day is included in any future courses!

In addition, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was omitted. It is a federal holiday in the United States marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., observed on the third Monday of January each year.

Finally, I would be interested in the history of Presidents Day, which used to be Washington's Birthday. Since it is now nothing more than an excuse for shopping "holiday" sales, I say we get rid of it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Delightful and fascinating

In depth, entertaining and delightfully narrated. This work was educationally entertaining from start to finish and I'll be listening to this one again. Well done!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very interesting information!

I enjoyed both the speaker's voice and the information provided. You will learn a lot about US holidays.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Unnecessary information

Lots of unnecessary information for example she explained how our eyes see light, I wanted to know the history of the holidays

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating facts about our celebrations!

Detailed and delightful course providing the origins of holidays celebrated in the U.S. You may appreciate May Day more, and you’ll never look at broomsticks the same way again!

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