Harry Potter Countdown Thread

[Tanniker Smith]

The countdown is on! We're all waiting. Let's talk about it while we're waiting.

This countdown ticks down the time to both the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix film.

Countdown clocks can be found at http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/#static:countdowns

[Tijeras_Slim]

I’m old enough... not rich enough! Plus, I doubt it’s return on the dollar in entertainment is anywhere near as good as HP!

[Tax-chick]

Ginevra is Italian for “Juniper,” the tree. It’s the same root as the city “Geneva,” and the beverage “gin” (formerly called “geneva” or variants) which is flavored with the berries.

“Juniper” was in use as a name for both women and men in Europe for centuries.

I used to have a print of Leonardo’s “Ginevra de Benci” at my desk at work. I gave her away, along with all my other decor, when I left my job.

[Tax-chick]

And there’s no linguistic connection with “Guenevere,” (or variants such as “Winnifred” and “Jennifer,” which come from the Celtic root for “white.”

[Tax-chick]

Where’d that parenthesis come from?

[Tijeras_Slim]

And there’s no linguistic connection with “Guenevere"

Sheesh, fooled by the internet again!

[Tax-chick]

It sounds very similar! However, Juniper was in use as a name in Italy for centuries before the Arthurian cycle took shape as literature. Iirc, the Celtic name that was Latinized as “Guenevere” is “Gwynhyfar”; you can see how that would develop into Winifred and Jennifer.

[Tanniker Smith]

TOP TEN REJECTED CHAPTER TITLES FOR BOOK 7

10. Slughorny and Having a Good Time
9. On the Tale of H. R. Hufflepuff
8. Slytherin's Lost Hair, Apparently
7. Seven Years of My Life for This?
6. Covert Indoctrination into the Occult
5. Dead Man's Chest At World's End
4. Lies, Deceit, Torture, Murder and Interracial Dating
3. The Inalfay Orcruxhay
2. Hermione Headlines Hogwarts
1. Harry Bites the Big One!

[Tanniker Smith]

The Italian word for juniper is "ginepro", which leads many to believe that the juniper motif is a symbolic pun on Ginevra's name. Fittingly, juniper was also a Renaissance symbol for chastity.

from Wikipedia, for what it's worth

[Tijeras_Slim]

Fittingly, juniper was also a Renaissance symbol for chastity

Dean Thomas is greatly saddened.

[Tax-chick]

symbol for chastity

A bit of a mixed message there!

[andyssister]

You're welcome.

Accio Quote is a great site for Jo interviews.

I love her name games.

Check out this Roman Emperor:Lucius Septimius Severus

He and Albinus were enemies. :)

[Tanniker Smith]

You know, it's funny when you think about it. She can be very clever with some names and allusions in the text, and you don't catch them because you've been clubbed over the head by a big, black dog named Sirius Black or a werewolf named Remus Lupin. (Whoa! Didn't see that one coming!)

I prefer to think of the "clubbing" examples as games for the kiddie readers, while Severus is a puzzle for the adults.

[Tax-chick]

The problem with Remus Lupin is that he wasn’t always a werewolf, so you’re left thinking that his parents must have been absolute dingbats or engaged in divination!

[Politicalmom]

I’m waiting for “Romulus” Lupin to show up.

[Tax-chick]

Maybe he was named after his uncle Remus.

[grey_whiskers]

I certainly wouldn’t mind if that annoying Draco Malfoy turned out to be one of them.

Off-topic comment Sarcasm Torpedo ARMED. FIRE!!

As long as it's not Frodo... ;-)

(I only skimmed one book...and even at the end of that, Draco had got on my nerves.)

Cheers!

[grey_whiskers]

Where’d that parenthesis come from?

It fell off of one of my posts. I'm always dropping them ;-)

(Just like socks in the dryer).

Cheers!

[Tax-chick]

Well, that’s okay. I usually keep a supply of apostrophes and semicolons about for emergencies.

Everyone hates Draco Malfoy, even his friends. I don’t think it’s entirely his fault that he’s impossible, though. His parents are awful, too.

[Tanniker Smith]

The problem with Remus Lupin is that he wasn’t always a werewolf, so you’re left thinking that his parents must have been absolute dingbats or engaged in divination!

Must've been another prophecy ;-)
Jerry Seinfeld had a line about when you name your kid "Jeeves", you pretty much know what his profession is going to be.

[Tanniker Smith]

(Just like socks in the dryer).

Didn't you know? House elves transmorgraphy laundered socks into closet hangers.