Today, popular belief holds that it is natural for human beings to work long and hard hours. This is far from the truth. Although European peasants in the Middle Ages were poor and oppressed, they didn’t work long hours. They celebrated holidays in honor of even the most obscure saints; consequently, over time they had more holidays and fewer workdays. At one point, the normal number of annual holidays was up to 115. – Ernie Zelinski, in ‘The Joy of Not Working’
Today, popular belief holds that it is natural for human beings to work long and hard hours. This is far from the truth. Although European peasants in the Middle Ages were poor and oppressed, they didn’t work long hours. They celebrated holidays in honor of even the most obscure saints; consequently, over time they had more holidays and fewer workdays. At one point, the normal number of annual holidays was up to 115.
– Ernie Zelinski, in ‘The Joy of Not Working’