Veela (was: When?)

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 118698


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Maria Holub <sopraniste at y...> wrote:
> Kneasy said:
> I suspect that Veelas are another mythological
> reference that JKR has slipped into  her books, this
> time from Ulysses - Sirens.
> <snip>
> 
> Now, I agree that this is one possibility (you'll
> forgive me for snipping your support; consider it
> point taken) but I wanted to air my theory on the
> Veela.
> 
> I had assumed them to be related to the Willis (or, in
> German: Vilja) who IIRC figure in Germanic mythology
> somewhere. I'm most familiar with them from the second
> act of the ballet Giselle. Basically, they take
> revenge on men who jilt their ladies by DANCING them
> to death!
> 

Hmm.
I see your point. Don't necesssarily agree, of course -  that
referee seemed to have things other than dancing on his mind.

Most of the males I know avoid dancing like the plague; it'd
take something seriously magical to get them to trip the 
light fantastic.  Either that or the threat of severe sanctions and
dire consequences from one's other half.

It's nicely highlighted later in GoF in the way actually having to
have a dancing partner to take to the Ball is greeted with horror
and consternation. I bet 90%+ of males know that feeling from
personal experience.

T'ain't natural, I tell 'ee!
Cuts down on drinking time.

Kneasy