philopena

Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

  • noun A game in which a person, on finding a double-kernelled almond or nut, may offer the second kernel to another person and demand a playful forfeit from that person to be paid on their next meeting. The forfeit may simply be to exchange the greeting "Good-day, Philopena" or it may be more elaborate. Philopenas were often played as a form of flirtation.
  • noun The occasion on which a philopena is forfeited; the forfeit paid.
  • noun A nut or almond with a double kernel, as used to set a philopena.

Examples

  • The subsequent Christmas dinner was a festival, and the dessert was prolonged with cracking nuts, making "philopena" bargains, opening sugar kisses and exchanging "verses."

    Her Mother's Secret

  • I can't help it if the boys send me philopena presents, as they do to the other girls.

    An Old-Fashioned Girl

  • "I owe him a philopena, and that would have been a splendid way to pay it."

    Tabitha at Ivy Hall

  • But when Lena had reminded him of all sorts of promises, and Frau Dörr with much emphasis and much use of her eyes had reminded him of the still outstanding philopena, he yielded and decided to spend the evening.

    Chapter X

Note

The origin of the word 'philopena' is unclear. Despite its appearance, it is not formed from classical roots. The traditional game seems to have originated in Germany, and to have included a formulatic greeting, Gutenmorgen Vielliebchen ("Good morning, sweetheart"), with Vielliebchen being accepted into French as a proper name, and the game's tag becoming "Bonjour Philipine".