San Sombrèro
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| Author | Tom Gleisner; Santo Cilauro; Rob Sitch |
|---|---|
| Country | Australian |
| Language | English |
| Subject(s) | Fictional country |
| Genre(s) | Travel; comedy |
| Publisher | Jetlag travel guide |
| Released | October 2006 |
| Pages | 200 |
| ISBN | 1 74066 385 3 |
| Preceded by | Phaic Tăn |
San Sombrèro is a fictional country set in Central America for the mock travel guide San Sombrèro: a Land of Carnivals, Cocktails and Coups, described as the birthplace of tinted sunglasses and sequins. It was created by Australians Tom Gleisner, Santo Cilauro and Rob Sitch (of The D-Generation and The Panel fame) to parody travel guidebooks.
Contents |
[edit] San Sombrèro
In Spanish, San Sombrèro would be translated into English as "Saint Hat", "San" being the shortened word for the Spanish word "santo" meaning saint, and "sombrero" (no accent mark in real-world Spanish) meaning hat.
According to the book the "full and technically correct" name of San Sombrèro is the "Democratic Free People’s United Republic of San Sombrèro", and citizens may be arrested, without a warrant, if the title is not used.
[edit] About San Sombrèro
Democratic Free People’s United Republic of San Sombrèro is a composite of many stereotypes and cliches about Central America and South America.
The book says the nation has "362 separate public holidays (not including the 'carnivale' long weekend". Also San Sombrèro is said to have had 17 different presidents over 10 years.
San Sombrèro is described as having a very high literacy rate because of an anti-illiteracy campaign in which, 'over 53,000 citizens who were unable to read [were] jailed or deported to Haiti'.
Before the arrival of the Spanish, San Sombrèro was said to inhabited by "Amer-Indian" ethnic groups, called the "Siboney" (Nomadic hunter-gatherers), "Taino" (who lived on seafood), "Puorcina" (who practiced simple agriculture) and the most dominant "Guanajaxo" (they just stole from everyone else). But there was a tribe that existed before called the "Bollivquar" who were fierce warriors and regarded themselves as a very complex and advanced society, which is said to be odd because they 'never quite' mastered fire, irrigation or star jumps. But they learnt how to farm tobacco, which to this day still remains a part of the Bollivquar diet, which explains their stunted growth.
[edit] Language
San Sombrèro is a Spanish speaking country, but a dialect developed in San Sombrèro. San Sombrèran Spanish combines Castilian grammar, Portuguese pronunciation, and indigenous shouting. San Sombrèran Spanish is spoken a lot faster than normal Spanish, due to the fact that is considered impolite to take a breath during a sentence. San Sombrèran Spanish has many Americanisms some of which are "beisbol" (baseball), "hamburgesas" (which is close to the actual Spanish word for hamburger, "hamburguesa"), beeras" (beers) and "dryvebyshooting" (drive by shooting).
[edit] National Anthem
The San Sombrèran national anthem is O Patria Glorisa (O Glorious Motherland), which was written in 1853 by an independence leader Juan Robirro, who is famous for uttering "he who loves his country, lives forever" shortly before falling off a ladder and dying. The national anthem is set to a bossa nova beat, and loyal citizens of San Sombrèro will stand respectfully, place a hand on each hip and start to gyrate while the anthem is played.
- A verse
-
- My baby melts my heart
- My baby drives me nuts
- The way she swings her hips
- The way her hair hangs down
- Give me a kiss,
- Oh gorgeous woman
- Cover my lips
- In passionate bliss
- Long Live San Sombrèro
- Oh glorious fatherland
[edit] Flag
The flag of San Sombrèro is the "Camouflagio", which looks like army camouflage.
[edit] Regions
The capital city of San Sombrèro is Cucaracha City in Polluçión. There are five provinces in San Sombrèro including Polluçión, the other provinces are,
- Maracca, Capital: San Pistachio
- Guacomala, Capital: Fumarole
- Lambarda, Capital: Aguazura
- San Abodonio, Capital: Nicotiño
