[HPforGrownups] religion in the WW (wasRe: the missing godparent)

[Kathryn Cawte]

No: HPFGUIDX 88344

Carol

>
> But having godparents isn't comparable to using "cool" expressions.
> The word "godparents" has God in it and relates to the ceremony of
> baptism (or possibly some similar rite in other religions). If the WW
> has kept the secular elements of Christmas (Father Christmas, aka
> Santa Claus) and Easter candy but discarded the religious elements
> (rather like American department stores), wouldn't they change the
> term "godparent" to something else?

K

My take on it is that Lily would have been christened in a Church and
therefore likely have Godarents - most of my contemporaries (except those of
Muslim, Jewish etc families) were, even if their families only go to church
for christenings, weddings and funerals. (I'm 4 years older than Harry would
be btw). She would then pass the tradition down to her son, even if she
didn't expect him to grow up being particularly religious. In Lily's age
group I think the majority of English people would list their religion as
CofE, get married in a church, have their children christened etc - even if
a large chunk of them never pray, don't read the bible and rarely set foot
inside a church. While it is a religious ceremony - I think for many, many
people it's more of a tradition now than an actual religious event. It's
just something you do when a child is born.

I suspect that since a large minority at least of children in the wizarding
world seem to have one or more muggle parents that the tradition could well
have been adopted in the same way as Christmas - and asfor changing the
name, why bother? They haven't changed the name of *Christ*mas.

K