[HPforGrownups] Further speculation on Dates in WW

[James P. Robinson III]

No: HPFGUIDX 45912

This is an interesting post in that it seems to point up a significant gulf 
between (literary critical and otherwise) approaches to the HP books and 
canon.  My point of view on this issue is pretty much diametrically opposed 
to Barb's, and I apologize in advance if I am a little brusque.

                                                 Jim

As the clock struck 01:54 PM 10/29/2002 -0800, Barb took pen in hand and wrote:

>I think we have to remind ourselves that there are some things that are 
>just not important to JKR,

Why?  What does an issue's relevant importance to JKR have to do with our 
interpretation of canon?  Why should it dampen speculation?

>  and dates are a very big something about which she doesn't seem to give 
> a fig.  Based on CoS and the chapter about Nick's Deathday party, for 
> instance, it would seem that Harry was born on July 31, 1980.  However, 
> this would put his eleventh birthday on a different day of the week than 
> that indicated in the first book.  She has Ginny saying she has wanted to 
> go to Hogwarts since Bill went, rather than Percy, who actually started 
> school after she was somewhat sentient, and, as previously noted, the 
> Shrieking Shack incident in PoA does not coincide with a full moon in the 
> real world.  The number of Quidditch World Cups that have occurred and 
> the year that it started also do not add up mathematically.

These apparent inconsistencies are a large part of what makes the 
date/time/calendar questions interesting.

>I find it highly unlikely that JKR has the wizarding world living on some 
>other calendar.

A quibble, perhaps highlighting different approaches:  IMO, the question 
may be whether or not the WW is on some sort of alternate calendar.  What 
JKR thinks about it or intends is only very tangentially relevant and never 
determinative.

>   They seem to celebrate Christmas and New Year and Easter right along 
> with the rest of Great Britain.  To bother figuring out which calendar 
> would allow the dates in the Potterverse jibe with ours is, quite 
> frankly, a huge waste of time, IMO.  JKR doesn't care and neither should we.

But why should JKR's views have ANYTHING to do with our interpretations, 
interests, obsessions, etc. regarding the works?  I see no connection.

>