Weasley nationality WAS Re: Seamus and the Weasleys

[bluesqueak]

No: HPFGUIDX 80008

   
> > Jeff:
> > >>The same can be said about how she presents the Weasley  
> > family.They're poor, red-haired, and have a large family. Sounds 
> > like a stab at the Irish to me.>> 
> > 
> > Kirstini:
> > Sounds like you implanting your own horrifically crude 
> > stereotyping upon an interpretation to me. Firstly, how a stab? 
> 
> > At which point in the narrative are the Weasleys portrayed as 
> > anything other than a highly interesting, enjoyable experience 
> > for Harry, experiencing a world other to his own? Secondly: at 
> > the point at which she created Ron and the Weasleys, JKR herself 
> > was struggling to feed her own daughter, and had red hair (
> > obviously, she acceeded to food and bleach as her fortunes took 
an upturn).
> > 
> Jeff:
>     Perhaps so, but it's just how she made Draco insult Ron by 
> mentioning his being poor, red-haired and freckled and having more 
> kids than they can afford. Sounds much like what I've read/seen 
> many English say about some Irish folk. Sod'em I say. Erin Go     
> Braugh! :) 

> So she just seems, imho, to be making a bit of a mockery of them a 
> bit. Even some other fans seem to think that judging from how they 
> write the Weasley family in their ficcies. Personally, I love the 
> Weasleys. Ron's my fave, but I think the rest are just as great. I 
> do find it funny that Jo loves the Weasleys and yet she did color 
> her hair. It's her right, but just funny.

Pip!Squeak:
Red hair can be a pain. Five kids run away from something they 
shouldn't be doing; and who gets caught? The redhead. Everyone can 
identify the redhead [grin]

I think red hair is related to the 'weasel' in Weasley. They have 
weasel coloured hair.

>    Oh, I agree that having ginger hair doesn't make a person full-
> blood paddy, but people seem to expect it, don't they? I know I 
> seem to run into that misconception myself, being redhaired and of 
> Irish blood as well. :)
>    I agree the Weasley family could be a few generations removed 
> from Ireland. Maybe their original family name is O' Weasel? :) 
> They would have more common Irish names, but living in England, 
> they might want to sound more English. 

Or they could be an old English Catholic family. That would explain 
the large family, the poverty, and the sneers of the Malfoys (who 
would never dream of placing principle over money and self interest).

It's not my idea; it was floated on the list about nine months back 
and I can't remember who suggested it. But it makes sense. JKR seems 
to have a good reading knowledge of English history - and for those 
who stuck to the 'Old Religion', Reformation England is a story of 
steadily losing power (as they are pushed out of government) and 
their inherited wealth (as they are fined to bankruptcy for not 
attending the Church of England).

The other misconception people often have in Britain and Ireland is 
that a Catholic background automatically means an Irish background 
[grin]. I've had this: I tell people that half my family are Roman 
Catholic and the response (often from Irish people ) is 'what part 
of Ireland are they from'? 

Errr... Lancashire. And the highlands of Scotland. Admittedly 
there's *one* great-grandmother from County Kildare, though [grin]. 
But most of my ancestors of the Catholic side represent those who 
resisted the Reformation. Northern English and Scottish. The slight 
red tint in my hair is unlikely to be from Ireland.

But English Roman Catholic would fit the Weasley's to a tee. A 
family history of principle above ambition - the story of Arthur 
Weasley's life.

It also would explain the strange hints that the Weasley's were once 
more powerful. Harry dreams of Ron in a crown, later the Slytherins 
sing 'Weasley is our king'. [Not 'A' king, which is what the Kings 
of Ireland are. 'Our' king brings to mind Roman Catholic aristocracy 
such as the Dukes of Norfolk, and the British national anthem ' God 
save *our* gracious Queen' (my emphasis). And then there's the 
Arthurian names, bringing to mind the 'Once and Future King.' ]

So the Weasley's are probably English. Old English. Very old 
English, probably so old they are Celtic or British, rather than 
Saxon. Arthurian English, which is a mixture of England, Wales and 
part of Scotland (plus occasional visits to Ireland to nick 
cauldrons). ;-)

Like Ollivander, and his sign showing that his family were making 
wands before the Romans invaded, never mind the Normans.

An old, old family.

Descended from whom?

Pip!Squeak