The Historical Geography of the Wizarding World

[Susan Miller]

No: HPFGUIDX 90049

--- Andrew Greaves wrote:
There are only five known Wizarding Schools, canonically located in 
Brazil, France, New England, Scandinavia, and Scotland respectively.

Constance Vigilance (me):

Actually, canonically, we have only THREE Wizarding Schools, and the 
locations of THOSE are in dispute. I think we all agree that Hogwarts 
is in Scotland, but we don't have absolute canonic proof of even 
that. That Beubatons is in France is also likely, but it could be in 
French-speaking Belgium. While I firmly believe that Durmstrang is in 
Scandinavia, there is much disagreement on that accord among our 
listees who have made good cases for Eastern Europe and northern 
Russia. 

I don't know your reference for a school in Brazil, but I suspect 
that arguments could be made pro and con on that regard also.

As for the existance of a school in New England, I think there is 
very likely to be such a school, but we have no canonic proof of any 
school in North America. We do have a cluster of quidditch fans at 
the World Cup from the Salem Witches' Institute, but that isn't a 
school, it's a social club for women. It's a JKR joke based on the 
Women's Institutes in the UK. Did you see the movie Calendar Girls? 
It's about a fund raiser at a Women's Institute. At the World Cup, we 
even have the visitors from the Salem Witches' Institute *knitting*, 
emphasizing the women's focus of the Institute.

I did enjoy your post, though. I think you have some good insight on 
the geographic history of wizardry.

~ Constance Vigilance