I like to think that my combined heritage somewhat represents the melting pot that is the United States. My ancestry is a mix of Austrian, German, Hungarian, Irish and Ukrainian. For a while now I've been trying to acquire keychains to pay tribute to the homelands of my ancestors. I'll be showcasing some of those keychains in this post.
This first keychain was purchased secondhand. I'll admit, most of what I know about Austria comes from watching The Sound of Music. I know that popular entertainment is often loaded with cultural stereotypes, and is therefore not the most reliable source of information. But in this case, I don't think the movie had any influence on my choice of keychain. However, there have been other times on my collecting journey when I've been swayed by cultural stereotypes.
People with strong Irish roots may be offended that I see this keychain in terms of my Irish heritage. The shamrock design and the green rhinestones are so over the top that, if I was more in touch with my Irish ancestry, I might've left it at the store. But I am first and foremost an American, so I'm accustomed to seeing St. Patrick's Day celebrated with tacky, green accessories.
I do have other Irish keychains that are a little more culturally sensitive. Or at least as culturally sensitive as something made to be sold to visiting tourists can be.
The keychains in this next picture are meant to pay tribute to my Slavic ancestry.
The one keychain was designed to look like a traditional matryoshka, or 'nesting doll', while the other features a red and white design that resembles designs used in Ukrainian embroidery.
Here's another 'nesting doll' keychain, but with a different color scheme and art style.
I'm still looking for interesting but affordable keychains to represent Germany and Hungary in my collection. Seeing as how I'm unable to travel to those countries in person, and considering the cost of international shipping for online purchases, it may be a while before I find anything. But then, isn't hunting for specific things part of the fun of collecting? Having something to search for helps keep collectors energized. The day someone finally completes their collection must bring about the same mixed emotions as a school graduation. The feeling of accomplishment is quickly followed by the realization that one journey is over, and that you need to figure out where to go from there.
Given the wide variety of keychains on the market, and the rush I get from never knowing what I'm going to stumble upon next, I'm hopeful that my keychain collection will never really be 'complete'. After all, everybody needs a hobby. However, I'd still like to check off the necessary additions to my 'cultural heritage' keychain sub-collection, someday.
Signed, Treesa
