[HPforGrownups] Re: Smeltings' sticks

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 168970

On 18 May 2007 at 13:53, Ken Hutchinson wrote:

> Even more so it reminds me of something that actually did happen
> while
> I was living in England. We tuned in the BBC news on TV one evening
> to
> find that a major scandal had happened that day in the House of
> Commons (I think, but it could have been the House of Lords). They
> have a large ceremonial mace that plays some mysterious (to a
> Yank)
> role in the legislative process. During the heat of a debate the
> MP
> holding the sacred mace got very, very angry and hurled it to the
> floor in disgust. My, I thought we'd never hear the end of that!!
> 
> Of course in the United States we tend to be less ostentatious and
> more direct. 

Shaun:

Actually the US House of Representatives has a ceremonial mace which is used in a fairly 
similar ceremonial way to the British Parliamentary mace.

The mace is a traditional symbol of prestige and authority, and the Parliamentary maces 
typically have fairly elaborate ceremonials associated with them. I've always liked the maces - 
ever since I discovered that the Parliament of Victoria's mace vanished without trace in 1891 
- there's a $50,000 reward for its safe return.

I have actually often wondered what real links there are between the government of Muggle 
Britain and that of Wizarding Britain - we know that the Prime Minister of the day is kept 
informed of some things (I wonder if Gordon Brown has had a visit yet, or if they wait until he 
actually takes over... but the thing that I would really be interested in knowing is whether or 
not the Royal Family has any influence over the Wizarding World. Personally I like to imagine 
that they do, but I can't see any actual proof of that. Perhaps just the term Minister is an 
indication - I believe a Minister holds their office from the Crown... of course, whether JKR 
cares about that is another question.

I've also wondered about the names of the money - the Galleon, and the Sickle - well, they 
are things - but what's a Knut? I wonder if it is linked to King Canute. Or to a Canute anyway. 
I'm not the only one who has made that link, I know... but again, it makes me wonder.


Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the 
facts. They alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be 
uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that 
need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who: The Face of Evil
Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia