Fun Facts
Cupid is the most famous of Valentine symbols and everybody knows that boy armed with bow and arrows, and piercing hearts . He is known as a mischievous, winged child armed with bow and arrows. The arrows signify desires and emotions of love, and Cupid aims those arrows at Gods and Humans, causing them to fall deeply in love. Cupid has always played a role in the celebrations of love and lovers. In ancient Greece he was known as Eros, the young son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. To the Roman's he was Cupid, and his mother was Venus.
There is a very interesting story about Cupid and His mortal Bride Psyche in Roman mythology. Venus was jealous of the beauty of Psyche, and ordered Cupid to punish the mortal. But instead, Cupid fell deeply in love with her. He took her as his wife, but as a mortal she was forbidden to look at him.
Psyche was happy until her sisters persuaded her to look at Cupid. as soon as Psyche looked at Cupid, Cupid punished her by leaving her. Their lovely castle and gardens vanished too. Psyche found herself alone in an open field with no signs of other beings or Cupid. As she wandered trying to find her love, she came upon the temple of Venus. Wishing to destroy her, the goddess of love gave Psyche a series of tasks, each harder and more dangerous then the last.
For her last task Psyche was given a little box and told to take it to the underworld. She was told to get some of the beauty of Proserpine, the wife of Pluto, and put it in the box. During her trip she was given tips on
avoiding the dangers of the realm of the dead. She was also warned not to open the box. But Temptation overcame Psyche and she opened the box. But instead of finding beauty, she found deadly slumber.
Cupid found her lifeless on the ground. He gathered the deadly sleep from her body and put it back in the box. Cupid forgave her, as did Venus. The gods, moved by Psyche's love for Cupid made her a goddess. Today, Cupid and his arrows have become the most popular of love signs, and love is most frequently depicted by two hearts pierced by an arrow, Cupid's arrow.
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Recipes Of The Season
Valentine Kisses: Makes 4 - 6 Ingredients:
6 cups Krispy Rice Cereal
1 Package Of Marshmallows
3 Tablespoons Margarine
Vegetable Cooking Spray Utensils:
Microwave Oven
Large Microwave Safe Bowl
Funnel Sprayed With Cooking Spray
12" Square Of Aluminum Foil For Each Child
1" x 11" Strip Of Paper Per Child
Waxed Paper
Mixing Spoon Directions:
Label each strip of paper to say "A Kiss For You!" Follow directions on cereal box for making treats. Allow the mixture to cool until easy enough to handle. Have children mold it in the funnel. Place on waxed paper to cool completely before wrapping. Wrap kiss and strip in aluminum foil. Give as a gift to a special someone.
Gingerbread Valentines Ingredients:
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup molasses
2 tablespoons vinegar
5 cups sifted flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon each of ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves
1 package red hots candies
1 jar silver ball candy decorations Directions:
1. Thoroughly cream shortening, sugar, and salt.
2. Add egg, molasses, and vinegar. Mix well.
3. Sift together dry ingredients. Add to molasses mixture, mix well.
4. Chill about 3 hours. Roll out, 1 inch thick, on lightly floured surface.
5. Trace children's hands onto paper and cut out with scissors. Place paper hands on dough and cut around with a knife.
6. Place on greased cookie sheet and let children decorate their own hands.
Use red hots for fingernails, silver balls for rings, etc.
7. Bake at 375 degrees for 6 - 8 minutes, cool on wire rack. Makes about 15
hands. Lovable Cookies Ingredients:
1 20 oz. Roll refrigerated sugar cookie dough, chilled
1 16 oz. Can pink frosting
Powdered sugar
Heart shaped cookie cutters - 1 small and 1 large Directions:
Prepare sugar cookies according to directions on the package for rolled cookies. Cut hearts in dough using a cookie cutter. Use knife or smaller cookie cutter to cut out a heart in the center of half the cookies. Place cookies on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 7 - 9 minutes. You can bake the baby hearts, too, for 5 minutes only. Let cool. Spread each big solid cookie with frosting and top with a cutout cookie. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
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LAST UPDATED
Friday, March 5th 2004
FUN FACT ABOUT TWINS
A peasant named Kirilow was presented to the empress of Russia in 1853 for the following reason. He had been married twice. His first wife bore fifty seven children, including four sets of quadruplets, seven sets of triplets, and two sets of twins. His second wife gave birth to fifteen children-six sets of twins and one set of triplets. At the time of his presentation to the empress, all seventy two of Kirilow's children were still alive. Lots of Twins (Over 4 sets)
Mrs. Mary Jonas (d. 1899) had 15 sets of boy/girl twins. A woman from Italy had 11 sets of fraternal twins in 11 years the last being in 1947 - not all of them survived. Marcella Mills-Bigcrow of Pine Ridge, South Dakota had 8 sets of twins,
along with 8 single births. All the babies survived, and were born between the 1940's and 1960's.
The Tremblay's of Quebec, Canada had 6 sets of twins in 8 years. Raymonde (her twin died at birth),
Ronald & Ronaldo, Jacques & Jacqueline, Jules & Julien, Francine & Francois, Christien & Christiane.
Mrs. Barbara Zulu of South Africa had 6 sets of twins in 7 years (1967-73, 3 sets of girls, 3 mixed)
The Lecus family had 6 sets of twins and 19 children in total: Edna and Edward on April 3 1886,
Charles and Martha April 27 1887, Elizabeth and Irene July 15 1888, Louise and Esther on August 8 1892,
Agnes and David on January 3 1899 (Agnes died at age 7), and Emma and Viola in 1902. All were born
in the Illinois/Michigan/Wisconsin area. Another daughter, Evangeline, had quadruplets that died at birth.
Six sets of twins were born to Mrs. Harry Fifield of Connecticut.
The Bockus family of Montreal had five sets, the last being born April 4 1845, a boy/girl set.
Above Info came from: www.twinship.com
Nigeria holds the World Record in Multiple Births.
more fun info about Nigeria:
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Most of the multiple births, comes from the women of the Yoruba Ethnic
group in the Western part of the Country who have the highest number of multiple births in the world. |
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Nigeria has more of Identical twins than Fraternal twins |
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The tribe of birth determines the names of twins in Nigeria. Among the Hausas Northern
tribe of Nigeria, the first is called Hassan, while the second is called Hussien. In the Yoruba
tribe of Western Nigeria, they are called Taiwo and Kehinde. While in Mid-western of
Nigeria (Edo State) It is Odion and Akhere. |
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There is a general belief that Yam in our diet contributes to twinning and multiple birth. |
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There are more triplets in Nigeria than quadruplets. |
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NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL TWINS DAYS FESTIVAL=THEME:
KEEPING MULTIPLE BIRTHS ALIVE Coming up in November, 2001. |
The World's Oldest Twins Who Ever Lived
The oldest twins ever documented are Eli Shadrack and John Meshak Phipps (USA) born on February 14, 1803 in Affington, Virginia. Eli died on February 23, 1911 at the age of 108 years; his brother John died on December 10, 1916 at the age of 113. The chance of identical twins both reaching and surpassing the age of 100 is about 1:700,000,000 (one in 700 million).
[ Editor's Note: Recent evidence has come to light subsequent to the publication of this edition of the Guinness Book of Records that throws this "Twin Claim" into serious doubt. More details later.]
The World's Oldest Triplets Who Ever Lived
The longest-lived triplets ever recorded were Faith, Hope, and Charity Cardwell (USA) who were born on May 18, 1899. Faith died first on October 2, 1994 age 95 years 137 days.
The World's Oldest Living Triplets
Marjory Skeaping and David Scott (UK) have been verified as the world's oldest living triplets. They were born in Edinburgh, SCOTLAND on May 19, 1920. Curiously, their Uncle, Aunt, and their Mother's First Cousin also celebrate their birthdays on May 19th.
The World's Oldest Living Quadruplets
The oldest quadruplets were The Ottmans (GERMANY). Adolf, Ann-Marie, Emma, and Elisabeth were born on May 5, 1912. All four quads lived to the age of 79. In November 2000, there were 992 sets of quadruplets worldwide. Identical quads are quite rare - only about 20 sets worldwide.
Tallest Female Twins in The World**
Heather & Heidi Burge - 6' 4 and 3/4
They were born in 1971, Palos Verdes, Calif -
Tallest Male Twins in the World**
Michael & James Lanier
7' 4 born in Troy Michigan
Shortest Twins in the World**
John & Greg Rice
2'10 - reside in West Palm Beach, Florida
Longest time a twin has remain undiscovered**
7/97 - a fetus was discovered in the abdomen of a 16 year old - Hisham Ragab
of Egypt. A swollen sac found pressing against his kydney turned out to be
his 7 inch long, 4lb, 6oz identical twin
Longest Lived Conjoined Twins**
Chang & Eng Bunker from Siam (now Thailand). They were born 5/11/1811 and
they passed away within 3 hours of each other at the age of 63 on 1/7/1874
Ronnie & Donnie Gaylon are the oldest living male conjoined twins. They are
47 years old and live in Ohio. For 36 years they traveled in shows,
carnivals and the circus. They retired in 1991.
Heaviest Twins**
Billy and Benny Crary - Hendersonville, NC
They were normal in size until they were 6 years old. In 1978 Billy was 743
pounds and Benny was 723 pounds. Their waist measurement was 7 ft.
Largest Multiple Birth**
1971 - Dr Gennaro Montanino from Rome-Italy, claimed to have removed 15
fetuses from the uterus of a 35yr old woman after 4 months of pregnancy. A
fertility drug was responsible for these Quindecaplets.
***Above fun facts were referenced from the Guiness World Records 2000-Millennium Edition***
FAMOUS TWINS
Steve Waugh - Cricket player - Australia's inspirational captain - twin brother Mark is also a cricket player
Henry Simmons - actor (NYPD Blue) - twin sister
Chris and Peter Ferraro - hockey players - US
Daniel and Henrik Sedin - hockey players - Sweden
Lori & Gregory Singer - she is a famous cellist/actress, he is a violinist
The Doves (from England)
Seven & the Sun (from New Jersey)
Back II Back
Aaron Carter is a twin
Vin Diesel (real name: mark Vincent) DOB July 18, 1967 twin - Paul
Tim & Tom Gullikson -Tennis
Kerry & Keith Cash - Football - (Indianapolis colts & Kansas City Chiefs & Steelers)
Paul & Morgan Hamm - gymnastics
Mark & Stephen Waugh - Cricket
Frank & Ronald de Boer - Soccer A
lvin & Calvin Harrison - olympic track
Heather & Jennifer Kinley-(DOB NOV 5, 1970) "THE KINLEYS Country Musical Group
James Taylor & Caroline Smedvig
Mark and Steve Waugh (dob 6/2/65) Fraternal twins who play Cricket for Australia
Aaron and Angel Carter fraternal twin siblings to brother Nick Carter from the Backstreet Boys
Heidi and Heather Burge - Basketball Players
Kelly and Coco Miller - Basketball Players
Paul & Morgan Hamm - Olympic Gymnasts
Tim & Tom Gullikson - Tennis Players
Andy Garcia (twin died at birth)
Nicholas & Kelly Schultz
Ed Sullivan
Jim Thrope (football player)
Thornton Wilder
Isabella Rosellini
Jeremy and Jason London (Jeremy in Party of Five)
Tiki Barber & Ronde (football Players)
Matt Geiger (Basketball Player)
Alexandra Paul
Elvis (twin died at birth)
Jose Canseco(baseball player)
Kin Shriner (General Hospital)
Mathew & Mitchell Laurance
Montgomery Clift
Cynthia and Brittany Daniel
Linda Hamilton
Mike & Bob Bryan
John Lovitz
Mark & Mitch Mimbs
John Elway
Mario Andretti
Kurt & Kyle Froman
Harvey & Horace Grant
Alanis Morrisette
Steven Tylers wife
Mary-Kate & Ashley Olson
Tia & Tamara Mowry
Robin & Maurice Gibb (Bee Gees)- (DOB Dec 22, 1949)
Won 7 Grammys and were elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996
Ann B. Davis
Gloria Vanderbilt
Keith & Derek Brewer
Renee & Rosie Tenison
Mickey Mantles brothers
Peggy & Patsy Lynn - country singers
Gunnar & Mathew Nelson (Born September 20th, 1967) "LOVE & AFFECTION" went to number # 1 on the 1991 billboard award chart
Roz & Marilyn Borden-The “I Love Lucy Twins
Deidre Hall (Days of Our Lives Soap Star & Andrea Hall-Gengler - DOB 10/31)
Liberace (twin died at birth)
Vivian & Marian Brown
Jill & Jacqueline Hennessy
Tim & Tom Gulliksen
Abby Van Buren & Ann Landers-(DOB 1918) “Dear Abby & Ann Landers - Advice Columnists
Mark & Scott Kelly - Asronauts
FAMOUS PARENTS OF TWINS
Brendan Shanahan (Red Wings player)
Pavarotti
Ray Romano - actor
Cheryl Tiegs - model
Chuck Norris and wife Gena - actor
Dave Mathews and Ahsley - singer
James Taylor and Caroline - singer
Melvin Gora and Gisel - (Orioles baseball player)
Jane Swift - Governor of Massachusettes
Singer James Taylor and wife Caroline Smedvig
Luis Gonzales- Arizona Diamondbacks has triplets and his wife is a twin
Al Pacino & Beverly D'Angelo- boy and girl
Kathy Moriarity
Dr. Drew has triplets
Holly Robinson & Rodney Peete
Nelson Rockefeller
Margaret Thatcher
Madeline Albright
Andrew Cuomo & Kerry Kennedy
Michigan Governor John Engler and Michelle Engler
Cleopatra (ruler of Egypt - 48BC) & Mark Antony - Alexander Helios and
Cleopatra Selene
Ingrid Bergman & Roberto Rossellini
Debby Boone & Gabriel Ferrer
Beverly Cleary (author)
Nat King Cole (musician)
Joan Crawford (adopted two kids and called them twins, but they weren't really)
Susan Hayward (actress)
Joseph Kennedy
Loretta Lynn
Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
Jimmy Stewart (actor)
Andy Williams (Singer)
George Bush
Stanley Tucci
Steve Forbes
Mel Gibson
Patricia Richardson
Ray Romano
Michael Douglas
Jane Seymour
Muhammad Ali
Ron Howard - Jocelyn Carlyle and Paige Carlyle (twins, born 1985)
Robert DeNiro
Ed Asner
Corbin Bernsen
Meredith Baxter
Bing Crosby
Mia Farrow
Michael J. Fox
Lee Majors
Jane Pauley
Cybill Shepherd
William Shakespeare
Donald Sutherland
Nikki Taylor
Denzel Washington - Malcolm and Olivia
Mia Farrow
Richard Thomas (has triplets)
Malcolm X
MOVIES WITH TWINS
Ripperman -- with Timothy Bottoms & Mike Norris (1994) -- Bob & Ed Johnson
Nell - starring Jody Foster
The Prince and the Pauper
The Dark Mirror
Village of the Damned
The Parent Trap
What ever Happened to Baby Jane?
The Shining
Liquid Sky
Basket Case
Dead Ringers
Big Business
Dominic and Eugene
Twins
The Krays
Double Impact
Lies of the Twins
A kiss Before Dying
Raising Cain
Multiplicity
The Man in the Iron Mask
The Parent Trap-remake
Twins Fall Idaho
Godfather I and III
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