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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