Magical ceremonies (was: Tomboy Lily/Dursleys)

[Morgan D.]

No: HPFGUIDX 59503

Finwitch said:
> I do think that Harry had a *wizard* naming ceremony. One 
> that includes some sort of magical blessing. 

<snip>

> I do hope we have description of that ceremony and that of a 
> wedding...
> Say, Sirius tells Harry about them - or Harry attends one i.e. 
> Percy's wedding with Penelope Clearwater in OOP, and in book 7 their 
> child's naming ceremony as an observer?

As much as I love the idea of exotic magical rituals for the Potters'
wedding and Harry's naming, and as much as I want to see them described
in future books, I doubt it'll happen. 

JKR has already been facing some fierce religious persecution because
of the use of magic in the books. Now, describing the protagonist's
parents' wedding as a magical ritual would in all likelihood bring a
violent of wave of protests from people claiming such union in unholy,
sinful, unacceptable. Moreover, a magical naming ceremony would bring
accusations that Sirius, in Harry's name, pledged allegiance to a pagan
deity (or the devil), since it wasn't made under the shelter of the
Holy Church. (In that perspective, an Anglican priest being a wizard
would be equally unacceptable.)

So unless a magical wedding/naming ceremony is relevant to the plot,
I'm betting JKR will keep her head down and avoid unnecessary polemic,
throwing vague words like "wedding", "best man" and "godfather" around
and letting the readers pick whatever float their boats: strange rites,
christian services, whatever. She strikes me as a person who picks her
fights wisely.

Just my humble opinion,

Morgan D.
Hogwarts Letters - http://www.hogwartsletters.hpg.com.br

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