Wizarding Holidays

[ourobouros_1999 at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 14706

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., love2write_11098 at y... wrote:


> 
> I think this is because Jo has carefully avoided all mention of 
> religion thus far in the books (and I think it will remain that 
way), 
> and major holidays are often religious in origin. It's safer to 
show 
> them celebrating the secular sides of holidays we are already 
> familiar with (though I doubt she does anything because it's 
"safe"). 

Well, plus they are already recognized as holidays by most 
Westerners, with a whole bunch of secular traditions, and plus 
schools really do have actual days off then, so it's realistic. 

> With the heat she already takes from right-wing Christian 
> fundamentalists, any wizarding holidays that implied a religion 
other 
> than Christianity, and *maybe* Judaism or Islam, would be . . . 
> dangerous?
> 
> That said, I think it would be great fun as well. Extremists ruin 
it 
> for everyone, don't they?
> 

Way out for JKR... Although a holiday is a "holy day," we celebrate 
for other reasons too. There are lots of secular holidays (mostly 
civic ones) that no one thinks of attaching a religious significance 
too. For example, President's Day, Arbor Day, Labor Day, Mother's 
Day, bank holidays, etc. Maybe there are special days, but they just 
don't get school off for them. 

Charmian