The Winkie Country is the western quadrant of the Land of Oz. It is distinguished by the color yellow which is worn by most of the Winkies. It is also the color of much of their surroundings. The Winkie Country is separated only by the Deadly Desert from the underground Dominions of the Nome King. Tin abounds there and it is said that the Winkies are some of the most skillful tinsmiths in the world.

Culture

The Winkies are accomplished and talented tin smiths. They also enjoy music, and the Tin Band of the Emperor of the Winkies performs at special occasions such as Princess Ozma's birthday parade.

History

The Winkie Country was ruled by the Wicked Witch of the West until Dorothy Gale melted her with a bucket of water. (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) Since then, the Tin Woodman has ruled the Winkies as their Emperor.

Geography

Like all the countries of Oz, the Winkie Country contains various unusual sights and places. Among them are:

• The Wicked Witch of the West's castle.
• The Scarecrow's Mansion, which is shaped like an ear of corn
• Jack Pumpkinhead's House, a giant hollowed-out pumpkin
• The palace of the Tin Woodman, created because the Wicked Witch's castle was too damp
• The Truth Pond, which anyone can bathe in and be freed of an enchantment, but must always afterward tell the truth
• The Tottenhots, small sprite-like people who sleep during the day and play at night
• Oogaboo, a monarchy where items of value grow on trees; it is separated from the Winkie Country by a mountain range
• Thi, where bipeds with heart-shaped chests subsist only on thistles and use mechanical dragons to pull their chariots
• Herku, where the natives are extremely thin and muscular, strong enough to keep giants as slaves
• Bear Center, in a forest where stuffed bears are ruled by the Lavender Bear and guided by the wind-up Little Pink Bear
• The tableland of the Yips, home of the Frogman and Cayke
• The Marsh Land
• Patch
• Perhaps City on Maybe Mountain
• Wackajammy

Other sources

In Gregory Maguire's revisionist Oz novels Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and Son of a Witch, this area is called the Vinkus, and it is revealed that "Winkie" is considered a derogatory term. The Vinkus is inhabited by several semi-nomadic tribes, including the Scrow, the Yunamata, and the Arjiki. Fiyero, a major character in Wicked, is a Prince of the Arjikis, and the Wicked Witch's castle (here named Kiamo Ko) is actually Fiyero's ancestral home.