[HPforGrownups] Religion in HP

[rosie]

No: HPFGUIDX 40575

Kel wrote:
  "Keep in mind that Xmas and Easter were originally
  pagan traditions, and much older than Xianity, which
  would be a reason even nonxians would observe them.
  However, I must admit to being perplexed as to why
  Rowling would call them Xmas and Easter, as opposed to
  Winter Solsice and Spring Equinox. I understand she
  couldn't call them Yule or Eostar, as these are
  Wiccan(?) terms, and the Potterverse does not practice
  Wicca... but I do understand that quite a few ppl in
  the UK DO observe Yule; in fact, In GoF, the ball that
  the participants of the Triwizard Tournament had to
  attend was called the Yule Ball. So, what's up with
  that?"

  Um, well, Yule is sort of used as interchangable with Christmas in some circumstances, like we have Yule logs (originally an actual bit of wood, now a chocolate swiss roll) and some really bad greetings cards say things like "Have a Cool Yule". Yule Balls are traditional in lots of universities and so on, same as the Spring Ball. 

  I guess this must be hard to understand from another culture, but it'd just be really, deeply weird to call the Christmas holidays the Winter Solstice holidays, or to call the Easter holidays the Eostar or Spring Equinox holidays, even in the WW, if it was in Britain. Having grown up here, to JKR (I expect) they are just what these "vacations" are called, in the same way that an American writer would call a knitted top that kept you warm a sweater, not a jumper, jersey, wooley or pullover. 

  Do you see what I mean? These discussions on religion are very interesting, it's just that there is definitely a cultural difference between here and the U.S. Saying "Happy Holidays!" for example, would be reaaaaalllllly reaaaallllly weird here. You might say Happy Christmas, or Happy Diwali, or whatever, but not Happy Holidays.

  As another Brit has pointed out, Christmas here is a really secular affair for most people. Christmas is just a time to eat lots, get drunk, watch "The Sound of Music" and have presents for most of us. Even a lot of people who are of a different religion to Christianity celebrate Christmas with cards and presents as well as their own particular festivals, because it's just the norm. 

  To me, it would be much much more perplexing to call them the Winter Solstice or whatever. Calling the breaks the Christmas and Easter holidays does not, in Britain, indicate a religious leaning, it's just what they are called. 

  Rosie

  (I am beginning to understand why some of the books had to be translated for an American market - the differences are greater than I thought. Yet I'm still frankly bemused that American kids had no idea that there were any Chinese people who lived in Britain. I can just imagine the books if they had been *completely* translated. No offence to Americans reading, those of you on here are very intelligent. I'm thinking of your average Jerry Springer guests)


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