7th/7th sons

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 1817

I was intrigued, and irritated that I couldn't find my books (note: not surprised;
we've been moving my office and I can't find anything), so I did a quick web search
on the folklore of seventh sons. Ron is, so far as we know, a sixth, but in light of
the interesting speculation that there might have been other Weasleys, here's what I
found.

In most of the Old World, there's something special about 7th sons of 7th sons. It
can be good or bad. In the British Isles, the attributes of a 7th/7th are beneficial.
Off a few sites:

"Healing powers: Some aspects of folk medicine were performed by specific people
known for their healing powers. Some examples of these include:  the clergy, the
seventh son of the seventh son, persons born breech, etc."  (Scotland)

"In Irish folk medicine, a seventh son is credited with the power to heal many
diseases; as proof of his power, it is said that he kills worms by touching them. I
well remember when, as a young boy, I went digging for worms I was told that it was
unwise to have a seventh son help to pick the worms because if he touched them they
would all die."

"DOCTOR: Name given to the seventh son of a seventh son, who is said to have healing
powers." (Irish name list)

However, in Europe being a 7/7 predisposed you to vampirism/werewolfery:

"Locality: RUMANIA (contd.)
 Species: Norferat
 How It Becomes a Vampire: natural causes: by being the illegitimate son of two
 illegitimate parents, or by being the seventh son of a seventh son.
 Special Activities: Makes husbands impotent. "

I assume this belief got to Argentina via Portuguese or Spanish folklore (?):
"In Argentina, people believe that the seventh son of a seventh son turns into the
Lobizon at midnight on the night of the full moon, particularly if this occurs on a
Friday. Col. Juan Domingo Peron, who was president of Argentina from 1943 to 1955,
ordered that all "seventh sons" be baptized in public ceremonies as a means of
stamping out this superstition. "

Now, it's not like JKR to spring stuff on us like this; she always leaves litttle
bread-crumb trails of hints. What my husband calls a "fair" mystery, where you are
given all the clues and have a chance of working them out. But I also think there's
more to Ron than we know yet.

Hope my cursory scan was of interest. Oh, nothing about spiders, sorry. [I hate them
too, Ron....]

--Amanda