Carnival has its origins in ancient pagan spring festivals related to Dionysus. According to Aglaia Kremezi, in her book, 'The Foods of Greece,' the holy fathers realised that they had little chance of prohibiting these spring rites so they incorporated them into the church calendar instead, calling the three weeks preceding Lent apokreo (literally the passing of meat). Various food prohibitions are observed at various times during this period but large quantities of wine are drunk at parties theoretically intended to encourage the earth to be fertile and fruitful.