In the midst of the harshness of winter, many can’t help but remember the original myth of Persephone and Hades. However, many romantic retellings villainize or dismiss Demeter’s grief as a mother.

However, before Persephone can return, Hades tricks Persephone into eating four (sometimes six in other versions of the myth) ...

Persephone had eaten some seeds from a pomegranate. So Hades demanded that she stay with him forever. Zeus decided that because Persephone had only eaten a tiny amount she could return to Earth ...

Demeter visits her brother Zeus. Persephone eats the pomegranate seeds. Persephone is allowed to return to Demeter for six months of the year, but must stay with Hades for the other six.