. . . They presently saw a town before them, and the name of that town is Vanity; and at the town there is kept a fair, called Vanity Fair; it is kept all the year long; it beareth the name of Vanity Fair, because the town where it is kept is lighter than vanity; and also because all that is there sold, or that cometh thither, is vanity.

In "The Pilgrim's Progress," John Bunyan uses the setting of Vanity Fair to symbolize the seductive and superficial allure of earthly pleasures and distractions. This fair, open year-round in the town of Vanity, represents the constant barrage of material temptations faced by believers on their spiritual journey. The fair is named for its frivolity, as everything in it is described as "lighter than vanity," emphasizing the transience and emptiness of worldly desires. Pilgrims like Christian and Faithful are warned that these temptations are pervasive and must be navigated with care to avoid straying from the path to salvation. This allegory serves as a reminder of the challenges faced in pursuing a life of faith, illustrating the pull of materialism against spiritual devotion and the importance of steadfastness in the face of such trials.