[HPforGrownups] Re: Puzzlement of the day

[Draeconin]

No: HPFGUIDX 166309

k12listmomma wrote:
>> Except "Godfather" is a Christian designation.
>> <snip>
>> Kim
>>     
> Shelley wrote:
> <snip>
> As for religion, isn't there hints of it? At Christmastime, Sirius was 
> singing "God Rest Ye Merry Hippogriff", and the fact that they celebrated 
> Christmas at all (and not Yule, or Winter Solstice) tells me that they must 
> have a "Christ" to celebrate his birth, or a Santa Clause to get the idea of 
> sending presents. I don't think that religion is all that different between 
> Muggles and Wizards, except that the Wizards probably don't attend the same 
> churches, unless the Wizards are willing mix in and blend with the Muggles. 
> One of the ghosts was the Fat Friar- meaning that it could even be a 
> profession for the Wizard, eh? It seems a lot of the traditions are the 
> same, just celebrated "wizard style" in the Wizarding world.

Draeconin:

Religion is a touchy subject, but while I'm sure that Christianity would 
have stuck its nose into the wizarding world early on, I don't think it 
would have maintained a firm foothold, especially considering 
Christianity's attitudes towards magic and those who practice it. Yes, 
I'm sure a few wizarding families here and there would still practice it 
(likely working class), and of course most Muggle-borns would likely be 
steeped in it, but not the wizarding world in general.

As for celebrating Christmas instead of something else, I think I'd lay 
that at the door of an author who automatically used what she was most 
familiar with. Then again, it may have been deliberate, in order to 
placate her mostly Christian-oriented readership.


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