Ernie enjoyed it with a rubber ducky; Calgon tried to lure women "away" to it; countless children fear it; and sadly, far too many people just don't "get" it. The bath has a long and rich history amongst we humans. For instance, Spanish friars of old, thinking the Filipino custom of daily bathing rather strange, used religious indoctrination to convert the cleanly-natives to their less-hygienic ways. The indios were ordered to forsake bathing on Fridays, especially Good Fridays, as an act of penitence - or else suffer terrible illness (Pinoy Trivia Vol. 4, by Bong Barrameda - Anvil Publishing, Inc., Philippines). Ironically, it is the cleansing "dunk" that is the baptism of choice for many religions. And let's not forget those rather hedonistic Roman baths of ancient times.
Medicinal, meditative, hygienic, romantic, rejuvenating and purifying - bathing can be many things. Simply put, with so much history and controversy, there's got to be something to the art of the bath. And if you haven't yet been lured by its magic, then consider this your invitation.
Bath fans these days tend to be women, but men, too, have been known to dip and enjoy. And some couples swear by the seduction of a steamy tub of bubbles.
