There was something mentioned about the author (Astrid Lindgren) of those fabulous children's book on the CBC today and in a flash I was 10 again, reading all about Pippi's amazing house, Mister Nilsson the monkey and the horse that lived on her porch.
This very interesting article talks about Pippi as a role model for young women.
Ms. Lindgren changed a potentially helpless little 'orphaned' girl into a self-sufficient, fun loving and capable person.
Interestingly, Pippi wasn't approved by of by adults when she first showed up some 60 years ago.
Some how, shooting revolvers and sailing pirate ships on the high seas* just didn't seem like a great thing to encourage in children, and particularly NOT in girls.
As it was to be expected, Pippi rebelled against the stern and disapproving adults so that she might still be enjoyed today.
I'm so glad for it.
Pippi really was a very influential character in my life growing up.
She truly did teach me that 'despite' being a girl growing up in the still gender-biased world of the '70's**, I could do whatever I wanted!
If in fact I felt that I needed to climb trees and lift horses, then I bloody well would.
(Truth be told, I still climb trees today! Never did get the lifting horses thing though.)
So HIP HIP to Pippi Longstocking; thank you for being the strongest little girl in the world.
Oh, and thank you for helping the rest of us girls learn and remember that we really CAN do what ever we want in this big old world.
And thank you for showing us that we can be anyway we want with humour, joy, our hair in pigtails and hanging upside down from a tree!
*So, ever wonder where my pirate fascination came from? Wonder no more!
**Who am I kidding...it's not all that much better these days, but it is improving (I add grudgingly).
19 comments:
Pippi Longstocking has always been one of my favorite childhood books - read and re-read cover to cover. I could relate :-) My two girls loved her too - we made my daughters Halloween costumes one year with their own braids sticking up (using a hanger wire).
Nice post!
I wore the wire hanger braids one year, too!
I can remember Pipi was one of the very first movies I ever went to a theater and got to watch without my parents being along!
I loved Pipi!!! :)
Yes so do I. x
Happy St. Patty's, Pippi!
*mcjeanne*
And she was an "unschooler"
Waay cool,that's why we love her so much!
I loved Pippi, too. She was/is/will be the greatest.
I like to think I've channelled the spirit of Pippi more as I've grown older.
When I was Pippi's age, I was more like her cautious friend Annika. (hey, as a matter of fact, I DID have a rather Pippi-like friend..)
Although your hair didn't stick out nearly so much, Tai. :)
I love to climb tree too! Pippi must not have been very popular where I grew up. All I knew of her was that there was a movie named after her.
I feel ripped off now! I would have idolized her.
I remember one of my teachers reading one of the adventures of Pippi Longstocking. It was funny.
I was fascinated by Pirates, still am. I even watched "The Pirate Movie" (that awful one starring Kristi McNichol and Christopher Atkins).
When I was a kid Pippi Longstocking was a popular Halloween Costume, and I was very fond of the cartoons. Thanks for linking to that article! I never knew this story originated in Sweden, and the "girl power" angle was something I never picked up on before but now I see that these stories were a harbinger of what was to come...thank god!
Oh I worshiped Pipi Longstockings, I would sleep with my head at the foot of the bed and my mother would get so upset with me. LOL! Thank you for making me feel good today!
I used to love Pippi Longstocking! I haven't thought of her in years...thanks for the flashbacks!
I'm sure your pirate fascination must lead to some interesting adventures in the bedroom!
I remember exactly where I was when I read Pippi Longstockings for the first time, cover to cover -- lying on our big purple couch, looking up through the window at a wide blue sky, and utterly engrossed in Pippi's adventures. She's fantastic!
She will be required reading for wee little Zoe!
Pippi rules!!
I've been renting them over the last few weeks. It took Netflix forever to get them to me. I only have the last in the series left to watch. Every summer they would air them when I was a kid. She was great.
I was JUST singing the theme song to the movie of Pippi Longstocking a couple weeks ago.
Hey Tai!
I always thought Pippi was a cool gal too.
Your Pal,
Zambo.
Oh gosh, I love Pippi. I read the books over and over...and then I read them to my nieces. I just loved how Pippi kicked ass and totally got whatever she wanted.
I wanted to be her. Shoot, I still want to be her!
Post a Comment