Filling the Gaps

The story behind some of the people, places and events used in Lovatts crosswords…

Joern Utzon

Danish architect, Joern Utzon,  probably one of the most accomplished architects in the world, never saw his finest achievement – the magnificent Sydney Opera House.

Utzon’s submission was selected from amongst 230 others competing in a worldwide competition run by the NSW State Government to design an opera house.

Construction began in 1959 but it soon became [more…]

Chinese New Year

On February 10, 2013, Chinese New Year will be celebrated and it will become the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese horoscope. 

In the build up to New Year, houses are cleaned and newly painted and gifts, food and clothing are bought. Paper cut-outs of words such as happiness, wealth and longevity are used to decorate houses [more…]

Christmas Day

What is the significance of December 25? We all know that it is Christmas Day, the celebration of the birth of Jesus and a time of families, presents and laughter, but why is it celebrated on that particular day?

In Armenia it is January 19 and in some eastern countries it is January 6 — [more…]

Cupid

Cupid is usually depicted as a naked winged boy holding a bow and arrows.

In Roman mythology Cupid is the son of Mercury and Venus. His name comes from the Latin cupido meaning ‘desire.’ 

An episode of The Golden Ass, a story told by the Latin satirist, Apuleius recalls the story of Cupid And Psyche. Psyche [more…]

Utah – the Mormon State

The Mormon Church, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was established by Joseph Smith in 1830. Smith claimed to have been given golden tablets that contained the Book of Mormon which recounted the early history (c 600BC – c 420AD) of American people.

He established the church’s headquarters in Kirtland, [more…]

Valentine’s Day

Flowers for the she-wolf or for Saint Valentine?

From ancient times the Romans celebrated the Feast of Lupercalia around the Ides of February – the 13th. It was a festival to purify the city and promote health and fertility. Lupus is Latin for wolf and Lupercus was the god of shepherds. The Lupercal was the [more…]

April Fools’ Day

“The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year.”
Mark Twain

 
The month of April derives its name from Aprilis, the name given to it by the Romans. It has its origins in the name of the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite. For the Romans [more…]

Boston Tea Party

In 1773, the citizens of Boston called for three ships of the British East India Company to be sent back to England without their cargo of 342 chest of tea being unloaded.

 This was in response to what were seen as unfair taxes on imports, being imposed by the British. Their request was denied and [more…]

Draconian

If a punishment is considered Draconian you can be certain that it is particularly or overly harsh.

As any parent knows, meting out penalties is always difficult. No video games for a month! Grounded for a year!

For schools, businesses and governments it is also a vexed question of what ‘punishment fits the crime’. Too harsh [more…]