The Founders (was:Pansy/ Re: House characteristics)

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 150683

> Carol responds:
> I like the idea of the four Founders each being from a different 
part
> of the UK, one each from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, 
but I
> can't escape the association of "glen" with Scotland. ("Danny Boy" 
is
> now running through my head--CMC, maybe you can filk it for me.) 
More
> important, hasn't it been established from the route of Hagrid's
> motorcycle ride in SS/PS (flying over Bristol on his way to Surrey)
> that Godric's Hollow is in Wales? That being the case, Gryffindor
> would be from Wales and Ravenclaw from Scotland. Also, although the
> other names admittedly don't give any clue to national origin 
(Helga
> sounds Nordic and Hufflepuff solidly English, with no hint of
> Irishness), Gryffindor to me suggests a Welsh origin: Griffith
> (Gruffydd) is a commmon Welsh name, and Gryffindor could be an
> Anglicized version of a similar name.

a_svirn:
Yes, I kind of thought so too – Gryffin-Gruffydd sounds definitely 
Welsh. And it would make sense too because of the distinctly 
Arthurian theme of this sword-out-of-the-Hat episode. It's just the 
moors that made me think of the North. 

Helga is definitely a Nordic name, but the Broad Valley is just 
another name for the Midland Valley, and they are juxtaposed in the 
song "Fair Rawenclaw from glen/Sweet Happlepuff from valley broad". 
Considering Vikings' involvement in Scotland *Helga* shouldn't have 
been so unusual a name.

> Carol responds:
> However, I've always vaguely connected witchcraft/wizardry with the
> Celts and Muggles with the Saxons. The Veiled archway on its dais
> suggests to me some connection with ancient Druids and even ritual
> sacrifice--Slytherin could come from this tradition, which of 
course
> the Muggles (Saxons) would fear. Helga Hufflepuff could be part 
Saxon,
> if not a Muggleborn then a half-blood, which would account for her
> wanting to admit all students regardless of "blood" origins.

a_svirn:
Do we have Druids in the Fen Country though? Or fens in Celtic 
Fringe ? I agree Celts do have a certain reputation where magic is 
concerned, but don't think maggles enter into this one way or 
another. Rather I am quite intrigued by the fact that a lot of 
families of "Slytherin affinity" so to speak, appear to have 
surnames of RL Norman barons – Lestranges, Perevells, Montague. 
(Even Slytherin House ghost is a *Baron*) And though *Malfoy* is a 
fictional surname it's also French. Even Voldemort styles himself in 
a French fashion. The foundation of Hogwarts is of course predates 
the Conquest, but still... There can be discerned a certain 
tendency.