they/them! | 20+ | 🏴
Focus is on the Celtic nations and England. Uploads may be infrequent! ToT
ko-fi
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Note: Although I do enjoy what hetalia's about, I do have issues and concerns with it, so I can stray away from canon.
If anyone wants any advice on how to write Wales (relations, mindset, slang, culture, problems, etc) please feel free to ask me, as I come from there and am familiar with it. I know most people outside Wales and the rest of Britain and Ireland don’t know much, so I’m happy to help. :]
I only know general terms and basic conversational in the Welsh language, and am not that confident to give very in depth, full answers about certain historical events or older ways in cultural events. Please remember that we did have a lot of our culture, history, and language stripped away from us, so it’s hard to learn about and access even for us natives.
What do you think about Wales and England's relationship? I adore their brotherly bond but it would be interesting to hear from someone who is knowledgeable! Especially considering the history between the two countries
Oof honestly this is a hard one even for me. I’m still thinking over this often. The reality vs the manga can feel a little contradictory; so I ask myself if these are entirely true personifications of our countries, or just Hima’s own characters who disagree with their governments and actions in history and to be treated as such.
I can’t speak for every Welsh person, obviously. And due to my own beliefs I am biased.
I, personally, find it a little odd that Wales is considered very loving and supportive towards England. This man has, even very recently in history, gone through some of the most soul crushing things to his culture and peoples at the hands of the English authorities despite backlash from our own people.
I know a lot of people now say that the past is in the past (which we’re still struggling to recuperate from, mind you), but we can’t deny there’s a lot of tension even now. We still face a hell of a lot of disrespect and get ignored so much.
Though I can understand them being close, even a smidge of protectiveness. They’ve been together since they were kids, they’re still in the same union, Ancient Briton ancestors once lived on the lands of what is now England, we helped them of our own volition to defeat the Vikings, and there’s also still a Celtic link between Cornwall and us. Some English mining towns also faced closure and poverty, which we are empathetic to.
If England disagrees with a lot or all of his government’s and country’s actions towards Wales in his personification, I can get how Wales would be more loving towards him. Although regardless, I do like the idea that he taught him magic. :>
Overall, I don’t find the portrayal offensive, I just find it odd and lacking. Lacking to our history, lacking to our viewpoints, lacking to what we’re currently going through in regards to England. I understand our history may be hard to access, and we’re not a very populated country so it’s hard to ask for our own educated opinions, ESPECIALLY in Japan and with a language barrier. But I wish some more effort was made. It feels like Hima thought ‘Wales is going to be like this’ and now we have to sort through the pieces of why Wales would be that way towards England despite history and tension.
Hetalia’s supposed to be light and fluffy, so I understand not wanting to write about our more bloody and upsetting history, show genuine contempt.
I’m definitely going on a tangent here from the original question lol, I’m sorry… But if I were to personally write Wales as England’s big brother, I think it would be that Wales wants to be a good big brother and tries to be nice towards England, put things in the past, but the bitterness sometimes comes through, doesn’t agree with him a lot, gets upset, and they bicker. Not pure hate, but not a wholly super loving and squishy brother to him like shown in the manga.
I hope I haven’t upset anyone with how I’ve answered this, especially not English people. There are English people who are very thoughtful and respectful of us, which is wholly appreciated. It’s just that history and politics are complicated. I don’t personally mind people writing Wales the same way as in the manga towards England, but I, as a Welsh person, do not find it accurate.
Still, we’re happy to see representation. :) Thank you for the ask!
absolutely I am! Sorry if I go off on a ramble hehe
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• The Celtic nations are more likely to call each other by their Celtic languages’ names (whether that be the speaker’s language, or the receiver’s language). They do this out of pure respect for one another.
• Republic is the most sociable out of all his brothers, so he’s really good at bringing people he has good energy with together!
• Republic also makes the best brown bread.
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• Wales has tried… tried to teach England spells in the Welsh language. It was a massive failure as England kept on trying to pronounce all the Welsh letters through the English alphabet no matter how much he was taught. Not only was it frustrating, but they kept on facing pretty bad consequences, so they had to stop.
• England’s also really shit at the Gaelic languages. But I think we all already knew that.
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• Scotland’s the biggest sweetest secret softie. I’ve wanted to say that for a very very long time. •_• He does act aloof, but he’s very caring and loving inside.
• To add to the above, I can see him being especially paternal and nice to kids. :)
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• Wales I would say is the best illustrator out of them all. Man literally has a super detailed dragon flag. He wouldn’t be able to recreate it if he didn’t have a shred of artistic talent!
• Scotland’s the best fisherman, and it’s one of his favourite pastimes! He always has something to bring back to cook, but when any of them try, the fish ends up… yeah.
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• When they were very very young, Wales used to tell England mythological stories whenever the latter was feeling bored/tired/sad. England really loved these stories! Unfortunately he didn’t hear them as much after they got driven apart to a more extreme level. He sure as hell won’t admit that he wants Wales to do the same now out of sheer embarrassment.
• Republic, Northern, and Wales are extremely giving people. They like to make sure everybody’s well fed and happy. :)
I just know this little bastard’s the most physically clingy out of his brothers and sings around the house all the time. Not even a hc at this point I know this for fact
In 1797, French troops sailed from Camaret, France, to Llanwnda, Wales, in their invasion attempts. The French never intended to land in Fishguard, but it has since been the last hostile invasion on British soil.
Jemima Nicholas, a local, had gathered a group of women armed (speculatively) with only pitchforks, and rounded up 12 drunk French soldiers and held them captive overnight in St Mary’s Church. The French army surrendered shortly after.
(And to celebrate our heroine, Fishguard would host an event for many years where a chosen local woman would dress up as Jemima, and reenact the events to discuss our history.)
If anyone wants any advice on how to write Wales (relations, mindset, slang, culture, problems, etc) please feel free to ask me, as I come from there and am familiar with it. I know most people outside Wales and the rest of Britain and Ireland don’t know much, so I’m happy to help. :]
I only know general terms and basic conversational in the Welsh language, and am not that confident to give very in depth, full answers about certain historical events or older ways in cultural events. Please remember that we did have a lot of our culture, history, and language stripped away from us, so it’s hard to learn about and access even for us natives.
