Harry's Holly Wand Connotating Christmas

[bboy_mn]

No: HPFGUIDX 42870

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "erisedstraeh2002" <bdmorrp at b...> wrote:
> Felicia wrote:
> > May we assume therefore that it was just the luck of the draw 
> > that Harry got the wand that was Voldemort's twin then, and that
> > it is a coincidence that both are made out of wood associated in 
> > some form with death i.e. *Holly and Yew*, and that Lily Potter's 
> > wand was good for charm work and James's wand better for 
> > transfiguration  by more arbitrary selection?
> 
> Now me: (~Phyllis)
> 
> My theory on why JKR chose holly as Harry's wand wood is because 
> holly is associated with Christmas, and I am of the belief that Harry 
> is meant to save the wizarding world from evil as Christ was sent to 
> save the world from evil.
> 
> We had a recent discussion about how in each book, something 
> significant happens on Halloween, but something significant also 
> happens each Christmas.  In PS/SS, Harry receives the invisibility 
> cloak; in CoS, Harry, Ron and Hermione drink the Polyjuice Potion; in 
> PoA, Harry receives the Firebolt and in GoF, there's the Yule Ball 
> and Hagrid revealing himself as a half-giant.
> 
> Laurel is a wood associated with Mars/Ares, the gods of war, so I'm 
> wondering whether we might see a baddie with a laurel wand in a 
> future book (perhaps the former Professor Romulus J. Lupin, Remus' 
> brother, that I theorized might have previously owned the battered 
> briefcase)?
> 
> ~Phyllis
> who agrees with JKR that those who say her books are anti-
> Christian "haven't read them properly"

bboy_mn Adds:

"Sacred Woods and the Lore of Trees"

http://www.tarahill.com/treelore/trees.html#holly

HOLLY* (Ilex aquifolium)
A beautiful white wood with an almost invisible grain; looks very much
like ivory. 

Holly is associated with the death and rebirth symbolism of winter in
both Pagan and Christian lore. 

In Arthurian legend, Gawain (representing the Oak King of summer)
fought the Green Knight, who was armed with a holly club to represent
winter. 

It is one of the three timbers used in the construction of chariot
wheel shafts. 

It was used in spear shafts also. The qualities of a spear shaft are
balance and directness, as the spear must be hefted to be thrown, the
holly indicates directed balance and vigour to fight if the cause is
just. 

Holly may be used in spells having to do with sleep or rest, and to
ease the passage of death.

Also: (Ron)
WILLOW (Salix babylonica)
In western tradition it is a symbol of mourning and unlucky love. 

Holly: See also- 
http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.mythholly.html

Willow: See also-
http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.mythwillow.html

Ash (Cedric) is a most interesting wood. In non-Christian
Euro-mythology, the first man, his name was Ask, was made from the
wood of an Ash tree.

General: See also-
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Chamber/7227/tree-lore.html

Just thought I would throw that in.

bboy_mn