Flamingos in Culture
Flamingos in Popular Culture
The word Flamingo means flame, and so these creatures were named by the Egyptians for their
fire red coloring. To this early culture the Flamingos were a representation of the god Ra, who was known as the
god of the sun. They felt that the animals where there as a reminder of the work of that god. They went out of
their way to make sure these animals were preserved.
In Peru, the Flamingo is considered to be a sacred animal. They have been preserved and often are found in
various types of art work. In many stories the Flamingo is the savior of animals due to the way in which it can
bend its neck and the abilities it has both on land and in flight. Some legends say these were men that in the form
of the Flamingo now have additional abilities that they didn’t before.
Many books have references to Flamingos as well including the classic Alice in Wonderland. Alice ends up using
one a mallet to play the game of croquette. You can also find them in books for kids with a variety of different
characters. For older children and for adults there are books that have real information about Flamingos, their
habitat, eating habits, and the future for them.
The internet is a great place to find out more about Flamingos. You do have to be careful though as many sites
contain information that is conflicting in various ways. Documentary films that show different elements of the
Flamingo in their natural environment are also a great idea to look into. This show you up close the things that go
on with their culture including mating, feeding, survival, their offspring, communications, and even succumbing to
the various predators found in the area.
While the information is graphic, it is also realistic. You will get a first hand account of what goes on for
these types of animals on a daily basis. You will also come to realize that they don’t live in the environments
where too many other known animals are readily able to survive. This could help you to learn a new appreciation for
these animals as well.
Many people have plastic Flamingos in their yards as ornaments. This is a fun and inexpensive way to decorate
the landscaping. In many parts of the world you will see them as part of collectibles including magnets, water
globes, and even in travel browsers. They are an image that people find to be calming and exciting at the same
time. Millions of plastic Flamingos are sold annually around the world. It is said to be one of the major icons of
Florida.
Since Flamingos aren’t a threat to humans, they tend to have a good vibe about them in culture overall. Many
people find them to be unique due to the color of them, their long legs, and their long necks. For those people
that feel that they are taller than others, stand out in different ways, they often can relate to the beloved
Flamingo.
The Flamingo has become a symbol of many bars, restaurants, and even a casino on the strip in Las Vegas. The
link here is that they want to stand out above the rest and there is no doubt that Flamingos definitely capture
attention when you see one of them. These types of businesses also give the impression that they welcome all types
of people from all types of backgrounds to come in and to enjoy their establishment. As you look around your own
environment notice how many references to Flamingos you find as they are everywhere in today’s popular culture.
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