Yesterday was our twin granddaughters birthday. Over the past few years, I\u2019ve talked a lot about twins \u2014 there\u2019s something about them that just seems very special. And it turns out that I\u2019m not the only one that thinks there\u2019s something special about twins\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Twins account for only about 3% of natural births, but throughout history they\u2019ve had a big impact on human culture. Twins have been worshiped as gods and persecuted as witches. Artists, writers, philosophers and even scientists have obsessed over these dual-beings \u2014 twins have left their mark on everything from ancient myths to modern genetics. They\u2019ve often been referred to as double-trouble or twice as nice. Some of my extensive research revealed that twins have been an obsession for a long, long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the ancient world, twins were often thought to embody the dualistic nature of the universe and the battle between good and evil. In Greek mythology, the twin gods Apollo and Artemis governed the sun and moon. And maybe the most famous pair, Romulus and Remus \u2014 the twin brothers who were raised by a shed-wolf and went on to found the Roman state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019ve been to China, or just visited a Chinese restaurant, you\u2019ve probably seen the \u201claughing twins” \u2014 these twins are Taoist immortals who have come to symbolize harmony and joy. Their origin is somewhat of a mystery, but they may have been actual historical figures. The \u201cdouble-motif\u201d is popular throughout China. The \u201cDouble Happiness\u201d symbol is everywhere and prominently displayed at special occasions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I spent some time in West Africa and while I was there, the daughter of one of the Embassy officials (who was studying African history) told me that the birthrate in that area was around four times the world average and that twins played a particularly powerful role in many of those cultures. The Yoruba people of Nigeria call twins \u201cspirit children,\u201d and believe that thet have an unusual closeness to the supernatural world and can bring good or evil to their families. Among the Yoruba ethnic group, one in 11 people is a twin. In ancient times, the Yoruba viewed twins with suspicion, and sometimes sacrificed them. But today, twins are considered lucky. I also uncovered an interesting fact \u2014 the Yoruba consider the firstborn to be the younger of the two. They believe that the \u201csenior\u201d twin sent the younger one out first to scout the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So twins continue to be a little \u201cmysterious,\u201d and I think that\u2019s a good thing. But I think most people have come to realize, as we have with Rory and Ellie, that they may look the same, but when you\u2019re around them you begin to see them as unique individuals.
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Yesterday was our twin granddaughters birthday. Over the past few years, I\u2019ve talked a lot about twins \u2014 there\u2019s something about them that just seems very special. And it turns out that I\u2019m not the only one that thinks there\u2019s … Continue reading