Anyway, I decided I wanted to get some Olympic memorabilia to put away for Lizzie so I starting poking around the internet for the Olympic Mascots. I found them. Here are their pictures:
Like the Five Olympic Rings from which they draw their color and inspiration, Fuwa will serve as the Official Mascots of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, carrying a message of friendship and peace -- and good wishes from China -- to children all over the world.
Designed to express the playful qualities of five little children who form an intimate circle of friends, Fuwa also embody the natural characteristics of four of China's most popular animals -- the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow -- and the Olympic Flame.
Each of Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name -- a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China. Beibei is the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan Antelope and Nini is the Swallow.
When you put their names together -- Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni -- they say "Welcome to Beijing," offering a warm invitation that reflects the mission of Fuwa as young ambassadors for the Olympic Games.
Fuwa also embody both the landscape and the dreams and aspirations of people from every part of the vast country of China. In their origins and their headpieces, you can see the five elements of nature -- the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky -- all stylistically rendered in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk art and ornamentation.
So, one of the Fuwa is named Beibei. That was name the nannies at the HengFeng orphanage used for Lizzie when she was there!! Here is a picture of Beibei:
In China's traditional culture and art, the fish and water designs are symbols of prosperity and harvest. And so Beibei carries the blessing of prosperity. A fish is also a symbol of surplus in Chinese culture, another measure of a good year and a good life.
The ornamental lines of the water-wave designs are taken from well-known Chinese paintings of the past. Among Fuwa, Beibei is known to be gentle and pure. Strong in water sports, she reflects the blue Olympic ring.
So now I am busy trying to find a plush Beibei for Lizzie!!
2 comments:
Hi Cathy! Check out China Sprout - they have lots of Olympic memorabilia including stuffed mascot dolls, some of which even speak! It's fun to read your blog and watch Lizzie growing up! And it's amazing to think that, before long, we will all have had our daughters in our arms for 3 years - where does the time go!?!?! Ailie will be 4 this month - and then she starts school a week later - hard to imagine that is coming already! Take good care! Happy shopping! Fiona (from your DTC group)
Wow! So glad to see you've been posting! Love the new header w/ Lizzie's picture! And the video clip of her singin is super cute...what a sweet little voice!
China sprout is definitely is the place to check out the olympics stuff. They have tons!
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