The Symbolicans are the native species of the planet Symbolica in the World of Pardoes universe of the Dutch amusement park Efteling, appearing in several books and comics and in a TV series. In the park, the species can be seen in the dark ride Symbolica and as meet-and-greet characters.
The species debuted in 1989 with the design of Pardoes as Efteling's official mascot.
Description[]
Symbolicans are very similar to humans. Its members have one head, two legs, two arms, a human-looking face and there are two sexes (male and female). The only difference to humans are the pointed ears that some of the species' members (like Polle, O.J. Punctuel and Pantagor) have.
The species might have a long lifespan, as they count age in "quint years". Deriving from the Latin word "quinque", which means "five" in English, the word "quint year" probably means that five years are counted as one year. If this is true, the young sorcerer's apprentice Pardoes and the princess Pardijn, who both are 15 quint years old, would already be 75 years old, while the kitchen boy Polle (10 quint years old) would have an age of 50 years. The age of the other Symbolican characters is not known.
At least some Symbolicans are able to perform magic. This magic reaches from transmutation of natural substances over removing letters from books and shapeshifting up to stealing music, blinding masses of people and even changing global temperatures. The grandmaster Almar is even able to look over all of Symbolica and to see into past, present and future.
Culture and society[]
The society is organised in an absolute monarchy. The current king, Pardulfus, reigns in the palace Hartenhof which exceeds on a mountain over Hartenstad, the capitol of Symbolica. Pardulfus seems to reign over the unified planet as there is no mention of another king on Symbolica. His family, the Domerano dynasty, is known to reign the Symbolicans since centuries. The kingdom of Pardulfus is known to extend at least over the lands Mysteris, Maracura, Sagarea, Saga, Mythena, Legendaria, Insulana and Draconia, as well as North to the Fog Mountains and the Fog Forest.
Originally, the Symbolican monarchy was a hereditary monarchy operated under agnatic succession, agnatic-cognatic succession or male-preference primogeniture, but this was changed after princess Pardijn successfully fought for her rights. The monarchy is now operating under absolute primogeniture, which means that Pardijn will become the first queen of the Symbolicans.
Magic has a high importance for the Symbolicans. This importance is so high that the grandmaster sorcerer functions as the king's adviser, indirectly reigning Symbolica. At a lower degree, science is also practised by magicians. Grandmaster Almar lives in an observatory, where he studies astronomy, but is also looking after the future of Symbolica with a magical telescope that shows the planet's past, present and future. The science of medicine is also practised by making healing potions, ointments and pills from herbs that are grown in special gardens. The Nikkelen Nelissen are robots built by the Symbolicans which form the royal orchestra. All knowledge of the Symbolicans is stored in books, most notably the "Book of the Seven Truths".
While "normal" magic is seen as very important and their users are admired, the use of black magic is condemned and frightened by Symbolica's inhabitants at such a degree that magicians who perform black magic are banished from the planet. The only other planet settled by Symbolicans is Zombor, the neighbouring planet of evil that is ruled by the banished magician Savonin.
One known holiday on Symbolica is "Cinque Solaro", the day on which all five suns of the planet can be seen at the sky at the same time. On this day, a special ceremony is held, in which three special objects are used: The Golden Fantasy Key (carried by Pardoes), representing the imagination and the importance of keeping it alive, the Magic K-Ring (carried by the grandmaster sorcerer, currently Almar) and the Golden Heart (carried by a member of the Domerano family, currently Pardijn).
The use of alcohol at parties and festivals also seems to be common at least among the royals as a whole chamber in the Hartenhof palace is dedicated to a collection of champagners. Polle's kitchen also serves different sorts of wine.
The Symbolicans share their planet with another species that seems to live in the Fable Mountains in the West of Symbolica. Some members of this species are servants at Hartenhof and other royal residents.
Known Symbolicans[]
- Aliciana
- Almar
- Humanos
- Marbelle †
- O.J. Punctuel
- Pantagor
- Pardijn(tje)
- Pardoes
- Pardoes' sibling (non-canon)
- Pardotje (non-canon)
- Pardulfus
- Polle
- Savonin
Appearances[]
- Efteling (since 1989)
- Pardoes en de Grote Bosgriezel (1998)
- Pardoes en de Bange Boeven (1998)
- Een Wonderlijk Avontuur met Pardoes de Tovernar (2000)
- Pardoes en het Verboden Sprookje (2000)
- Pardoes en het Tinkelende,Twinkelende Wondergeluid (2001)
- Pardoes en de Verdwenen Formule (2002)
- De Magische Wereld van Pardoes (2011)
- Symbolica (2017)