Hetalia Observations & Ponderances.

[bijou-cho.livejournal.com]

Hi all! Just de-lurking  for a quick question, don't mind me.

As we know, the characters of Hetalia and their stories are largely inspired by certain real facts, be they general stereotype(e.g: Italia loving pasta, France being very affectionate), or an event triggered by history (e.g: why russia carries a faucet around, and China's copyright infringement saga- this one made me giggle hard because I've ever watched this on youtube way before Hetalia came about and made the instant connection ) and so on, but all the same, has anyone else ever found themselves observing/reading something about a character or a particular strip that they can't quite explain how the association came about?  I seem to do so a bit and it got me wondering very inane things, and I was hoping someone could enlighten me, or at least share your theories of how or what may have inspired it.

My personal ponderances run along the lines of: 

1) Is there any particular reason why Sweden (Su-san) is portrayed with 'scary eyes'? (Are those eyebags? And if they are, why Sweden?)

2) Is there any particular reason why UK is portrayed as the 'pure' one who can see things others can't (like Unicorns? for that matter, is the selection of a Unicorn based on certain references to UK as well?) 

These are the two topmost questions that come to mind, so if anyone has any theories or actual references they would be most appreciated! Also, do post your own questions (and answers too) if you've got them.. eh, so I don't feel alone with my idiosyncrasies? =D

Thanks in advance for all your lovely thoughts!

edit: Squee, a discussion Kumbaya! (Man, the things you miss while you're working!)

Comments

[kainoliero.livejournal.com]

Continuing the fae theme, what is that little creature you often see with Norway and why? Is Norway also able to see supernatural creatures?

[midsommartid.livejournal.com]

(This is what I gleaned from my research for my RPing and writing of Norway. As of yet, there is absolutely no canon information on Norway or whatever abilities he might have.)

It's a nisse! I am 95% sure of this. It's a creature that represents the soul of the land and often helps out around farmhouses (a la brownies of more western folklore...) -- as long as you don't make them angry, that is! :) No word yet on Norway's affiliation with magical beings, but Norway is a country entrenched in its folklore -- it's such an intrinsic part of its national identity that I wouldn't be surprised if Norway followed in England's footsteps with the whole mystical thingum...

[midsommartid.livejournal.com]

:D :D As much as I want to eat the cupcakes in your icon, I'm sure... ♥

[bakayaromaniac.livejournal.com]

I don't think the nisse has much to do with England, but as a Danish citizen, I know that the Nisse also is extremly common Christmas-related folklore in Denmark too.
One of the most popular Christmas TV shows and Christmas songs features these Nisse creatures.
Also they're typically either gift-givers or trouble makers in the household during December where small kids can get gifts from them and stuff like that.
I'm a bit rusty on this since we don't do this at my home since my family is Bosnian D:

[monomatt.livejournal.com]

It's strange it's not a troll, seeing as I am Norwegian and usually we're much more stringed together with trolls than faeries, and the creature hanging about with Norway really doesn't remind me of what I'd picture a nisse or a tusse.

[bakayaromaniac.livejournal.com]

Yeah, isn't a nisse a Danish thing?

[monomatt.livejournal.com]

No, it's a Scandinavian thing, but it's not what Norwegians usually are put with.

[bakayaromaniac.livejournal.com]

Well I live in DK and never really cared enough to look into it, neither am I a Dane, so I don't have family traditions like this, but it's EVERYWHERE here LOL

[sibiriens.livejournal.com]

The little creature you can se with Norway is called a nisse, from what I have gathered, which is a mythological creature that's common to all of the scandinavian countries. As I'm swedish, I know it from swedish folklore. It is called many things; Tomte, Tomtegubbe (Tomte-"old man"), Tomtenisse or simply Nisse/Nissen. I think it's only us Swedes who call the nissen "Tomte", but I'm not sure. They are ancient creatures who lives at the area of where a farm is, sorta. "Tomt" means in swedish "house lot", I think.

The nisse is clothed in gray or red and has got a long, gray (or sometimes white) beard. It was he who kept track of the things that happened on the farm, he was/is rather grumpy and if you misbehave, the nisse is sure to punish you in some way...

[kainoliero.livejournal.com]

A-ha, here in Finland it would be "tonttu" then. However, tonttu are usually spirits of the household and look like tiny old men or women, exactly like you described them (I'm guessing we got the creature from Sweden because there's a whole lot of things we got from Sweden! :D Extremely unlikely it would have happened the other way around.). The creature often pictured with Norway looks much more like fae. :S?

[sibiriens.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it does look more of a fae than a traditional tomte, but I suppose it just has been cutified by HH, or something...