Valentine’s Day. Think about it. An entire social and economic system of dances, chocolate, jewelry, naughty gifts, and more tied to one day. People spend hours (okay minutes for you procrastinators) agonizing over how best to demonstrate their love for their significant other. Those without partners convince themselves that the… Read more“Map Monday, What’s the Deal with Valentine’s Day?”
Tag: Map Monday
Map Monday, Toponymy in the US
Toponymy is the study of place names, specifically their origin. Since this is a Map Monday feature, toponymy seems like a relevant topic. Wanderlust is a core characteristic of humans. While all of us ultimately trace our origins to Africa, there have been many stops along the way. An earlier… Read more“Map Monday, Toponymy in the US”
Map Monday, Christmas Gift-giving
Christmas gift-giving is an ancient tradition that pre-dates the founding of Christianity. While many cultures include deep gift-giving customs, the Christian practice traces its roots back to ancient Rome. Saturn Connection Saturnalia was a festival to honor the god Saturn. Initially held on 17 December, in the late republic it… Read more“Map Monday, Christmas Gift-giving”