burmese toys

burmese toys, originally uploaded by flappingwings.

burmese toys

Traditional Burmese toys. Starting from the front row, on the left is a pair of Pyit-Taing-Htaungs, the right a pair of Shwe-Zee-Gwaks and in the back are a group of Poe-Wa-Yotes. There is also a small red cow, partly covered.

Pyit-Taing-Htaung is a Burmese version of weeble. Roughly translates to up-whenever-thrown. They come in pairs. Here they have placed two males side by side but usually its male and female. The female has a different hair style.

Shwe-Zee-Gwak or 'golden' owls also come in pairs. The one on the right is a female because there are two small baby owls painted on the body. In addition to being a toy, a pair of Zee-Gwaks is also regarded as luck-bringers; some people put a larger and grander version inside their living room; some hang mini versions in their cars.

Po-Wa-Yote: They are an exaggerated version of a young happy and healthy boy. Po is a title for male. Wa means chubby but implies healthy in this context and Yote means toy. It translates roughly to Mr Chubby Toy. Its hair style is something that is rarely seen these days in young children but in the old days it is one of the things that was considered very Burmese.

In modern cities, like Yangon, these toys have virtually disappeared from a collection of children's toys as the plastic and electronic ones have replaced them. Instead, they have made their way into tourist souvenir shops. However, in villages and smaller towns across Burma, children can still be seen playing with these toys.

Uploaded by flappingwings on 26 Jan 06, 3.50AM PDT.