[HPforGrownups] Magical ceremonies (was: Tomboy Lily/Dursleys)

[Jesta Hijinx]

No: HPFGUIDX 59560


>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
>
Morgan:

I *completely* agree with you.  As you said, reason majorus:  she's had 
enough flak and picks her fights wisely.  The books really are *not* about 
promoting the use of magic and magic rituals specifically.  Reason minorus:  
they're already long enough!  She's evidently having enough trouble holding 
down the verbiage that it takes to drive the plot without adding these 
glimpses of wizard culture - fascinating as they might be to the fans as an 
aside.

Felinia

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