Who was the Hedwig in “A history of Magic”?
He had decided to call her Hedwig, a name he had found in A History of Magic. (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 6)
Is there any canon info on who that Hedwig was in-universe? HP Lexicon mentions that it was a out-of-universe saint.
harry-potter
add a comment |
He had decided to call her Hedwig, a name he had found in A History of Magic. (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 6)
Is there any canon info on who that Hedwig was in-universe? HP Lexicon mentions that it was a out-of-universe saint.
harry-potter
I thought the most likely books to find in-universe info on who Hedwig might be would be CoS and TTOBB, but I couldn't find a reference in either (the e-book British versions anyway). Here is a link to the St. Hedwig reference at JKR's old FAQ via the Wayback Machine. Too bad she didn't elaborate. :)
– Slytherincess
Dec 7 '13 at 2:22
Doesn't have to be a "who", could be the name of a place
– user13267
Dec 7 '13 at 4:17
Hedwig was a famous bard who created the powerful spellsong the angry inch
– severa
Dec 7 '13 at 6:14
@severa - source?
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Dec 7 '13 at 14:17
@DVK, I think this might be to what Severa referred calgarysun.com/2013/11/10/…
– balanced mama
Dec 7 '13 at 18:25
add a comment |
He had decided to call her Hedwig, a name he had found in A History of Magic. (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 6)
Is there any canon info on who that Hedwig was in-universe? HP Lexicon mentions that it was a out-of-universe saint.
harry-potter
He had decided to call her Hedwig, a name he had found in A History of Magic. (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 6)
Is there any canon info on who that Hedwig was in-universe? HP Lexicon mentions that it was a out-of-universe saint.
harry-potter
harry-potter
asked Dec 7 '13 at 1:42
DVK-on-Ahch-ToDVK-on-Ahch-To
273k12613001861
273k12613001861
I thought the most likely books to find in-universe info on who Hedwig might be would be CoS and TTOBB, but I couldn't find a reference in either (the e-book British versions anyway). Here is a link to the St. Hedwig reference at JKR's old FAQ via the Wayback Machine. Too bad she didn't elaborate. :)
– Slytherincess
Dec 7 '13 at 2:22
Doesn't have to be a "who", could be the name of a place
– user13267
Dec 7 '13 at 4:17
Hedwig was a famous bard who created the powerful spellsong the angry inch
– severa
Dec 7 '13 at 6:14
@severa - source?
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Dec 7 '13 at 14:17
@DVK, I think this might be to what Severa referred calgarysun.com/2013/11/10/…
– balanced mama
Dec 7 '13 at 18:25
add a comment |
I thought the most likely books to find in-universe info on who Hedwig might be would be CoS and TTOBB, but I couldn't find a reference in either (the e-book British versions anyway). Here is a link to the St. Hedwig reference at JKR's old FAQ via the Wayback Machine. Too bad she didn't elaborate. :)
– Slytherincess
Dec 7 '13 at 2:22
Doesn't have to be a "who", could be the name of a place
– user13267
Dec 7 '13 at 4:17
Hedwig was a famous bard who created the powerful spellsong the angry inch
– severa
Dec 7 '13 at 6:14
@severa - source?
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Dec 7 '13 at 14:17
@DVK, I think this might be to what Severa referred calgarysun.com/2013/11/10/…
– balanced mama
Dec 7 '13 at 18:25
I thought the most likely books to find in-universe info on who Hedwig might be would be CoS and TTOBB, but I couldn't find a reference in either (the e-book British versions anyway). Here is a link to the St. Hedwig reference at JKR's old FAQ via the Wayback Machine. Too bad she didn't elaborate. :)
– Slytherincess
Dec 7 '13 at 2:22
I thought the most likely books to find in-universe info on who Hedwig might be would be CoS and TTOBB, but I couldn't find a reference in either (the e-book British versions anyway). Here is a link to the St. Hedwig reference at JKR's old FAQ via the Wayback Machine. Too bad she didn't elaborate. :)
– Slytherincess
Dec 7 '13 at 2:22
Doesn't have to be a "who", could be the name of a place
– user13267
Dec 7 '13 at 4:17
Doesn't have to be a "who", could be the name of a place
– user13267
Dec 7 '13 at 4:17
Hedwig was a famous bard who created the powerful spellsong the angry inch
– severa
Dec 7 '13 at 6:14
Hedwig was a famous bard who created the powerful spellsong the angry inch
– severa
Dec 7 '13 at 6:14
@severa - source?
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Dec 7 '13 at 14:17
@severa - source?
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Dec 7 '13 at 14:17
@DVK, I think this might be to what Severa referred calgarysun.com/2013/11/10/…
– balanced mama
Dec 7 '13 at 18:25
@DVK, I think this might be to what Severa referred calgarysun.com/2013/11/10/…
– balanced mama
Dec 7 '13 at 18:25
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Hedwig is named after Saint Hedwig
During an interview that she conducted in 2000, JK Rowling identified the root of many names used in the HP canon;
How do you come up with all the unique names, places, and things that help make Harry Potter so intriguing?
Many of the names are invented, for example "Quidditch" and "Muggle." I also collect unusual names, and I take them from all sorts of
different places. "Hedwig" was a saint, "Dumbledore" is an old English
word for "bumblebee," and "Snape" is the name of a place in England.
Saint Hedwig (in addition to being the Patron Saint of Silesia) is famed for being the Patron Saint of orphans, having opened several orphanages in Poland during the 13th Century.
In-universe, there's no canon explanation why "Saint Hedwig" would be included the "History of Magic" (possibly a famous half-blood wizard or witch grew up in one of the literally hundreds of St Hedwig's monasteries and orphanages around the world) but it's hardly surprising that Harry would gravitate toward the name of someone famed for caring for people who'd lost their parents.
Sorry, I am not sure I'm buying your logic (you yourself wrote the contradiction). There is no possible in-universe reason why a Christian Saint would be in "History of Magic" book.
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Feb 8 '14 at 14:46
Unless a famous muggle wizard happened to live in one of the literally hundreds of orphanages named after St Hedwig, for example. You might just as well ask why Mr Wool is included; harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Wool's_Orphanage
– Valorum
Feb 8 '14 at 14:48
now THAT's plausible (not as good as canon answer, but plausible). Put that into the answer, pls.
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Feb 8 '14 at 14:53
2
My guess is that there's no canon answer. The "history of magic" seems a bit of a dumping ground for plot points and names. Whenever Harry gets stumped, Hermione (or whoever) reads out a paragraph from the book that explains what a muggle is, or who Godric Gryffindow is or whatever...
– Valorum
Feb 8 '14 at 15:03
I assumed like Nicolas Flamel, she was also known in the muggle world as well as wizarding world.
– Bernard the Bear
Apr 27 '18 at 12:22
add a comment |
I think its quite likely that Hedwig was a saint for both Muggles and Magical folk - the Magicals have a hospital named after a saint (St Mungo) so evidently, at some point the Magicals acknowledged saints.
New contributor
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "186"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fscifi.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f45924%2fwho-was-the-hedwig-in-a-history-of-magic%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Hedwig is named after Saint Hedwig
During an interview that she conducted in 2000, JK Rowling identified the root of many names used in the HP canon;
How do you come up with all the unique names, places, and things that help make Harry Potter so intriguing?
Many of the names are invented, for example "Quidditch" and "Muggle." I also collect unusual names, and I take them from all sorts of
different places. "Hedwig" was a saint, "Dumbledore" is an old English
word for "bumblebee," and "Snape" is the name of a place in England.
Saint Hedwig (in addition to being the Patron Saint of Silesia) is famed for being the Patron Saint of orphans, having opened several orphanages in Poland during the 13th Century.
In-universe, there's no canon explanation why "Saint Hedwig" would be included the "History of Magic" (possibly a famous half-blood wizard or witch grew up in one of the literally hundreds of St Hedwig's monasteries and orphanages around the world) but it's hardly surprising that Harry would gravitate toward the name of someone famed for caring for people who'd lost their parents.
Sorry, I am not sure I'm buying your logic (you yourself wrote the contradiction). There is no possible in-universe reason why a Christian Saint would be in "History of Magic" book.
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Feb 8 '14 at 14:46
Unless a famous muggle wizard happened to live in one of the literally hundreds of orphanages named after St Hedwig, for example. You might just as well ask why Mr Wool is included; harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Wool's_Orphanage
– Valorum
Feb 8 '14 at 14:48
now THAT's plausible (not as good as canon answer, but plausible). Put that into the answer, pls.
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Feb 8 '14 at 14:53
2
My guess is that there's no canon answer. The "history of magic" seems a bit of a dumping ground for plot points and names. Whenever Harry gets stumped, Hermione (or whoever) reads out a paragraph from the book that explains what a muggle is, or who Godric Gryffindow is or whatever...
– Valorum
Feb 8 '14 at 15:03
I assumed like Nicolas Flamel, she was also known in the muggle world as well as wizarding world.
– Bernard the Bear
Apr 27 '18 at 12:22
add a comment |
Hedwig is named after Saint Hedwig
During an interview that she conducted in 2000, JK Rowling identified the root of many names used in the HP canon;
How do you come up with all the unique names, places, and things that help make Harry Potter so intriguing?
Many of the names are invented, for example "Quidditch" and "Muggle." I also collect unusual names, and I take them from all sorts of
different places. "Hedwig" was a saint, "Dumbledore" is an old English
word for "bumblebee," and "Snape" is the name of a place in England.
Saint Hedwig (in addition to being the Patron Saint of Silesia) is famed for being the Patron Saint of orphans, having opened several orphanages in Poland during the 13th Century.
In-universe, there's no canon explanation why "Saint Hedwig" would be included the "History of Magic" (possibly a famous half-blood wizard or witch grew up in one of the literally hundreds of St Hedwig's monasteries and orphanages around the world) but it's hardly surprising that Harry would gravitate toward the name of someone famed for caring for people who'd lost their parents.
Sorry, I am not sure I'm buying your logic (you yourself wrote the contradiction). There is no possible in-universe reason why a Christian Saint would be in "History of Magic" book.
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Feb 8 '14 at 14:46
Unless a famous muggle wizard happened to live in one of the literally hundreds of orphanages named after St Hedwig, for example. You might just as well ask why Mr Wool is included; harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Wool's_Orphanage
– Valorum
Feb 8 '14 at 14:48
now THAT's plausible (not as good as canon answer, but plausible). Put that into the answer, pls.
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Feb 8 '14 at 14:53
2
My guess is that there's no canon answer. The "history of magic" seems a bit of a dumping ground for plot points and names. Whenever Harry gets stumped, Hermione (or whoever) reads out a paragraph from the book that explains what a muggle is, or who Godric Gryffindow is or whatever...
– Valorum
Feb 8 '14 at 15:03
I assumed like Nicolas Flamel, she was also known in the muggle world as well as wizarding world.
– Bernard the Bear
Apr 27 '18 at 12:22
add a comment |
Hedwig is named after Saint Hedwig
During an interview that she conducted in 2000, JK Rowling identified the root of many names used in the HP canon;
How do you come up with all the unique names, places, and things that help make Harry Potter so intriguing?
Many of the names are invented, for example "Quidditch" and "Muggle." I also collect unusual names, and I take them from all sorts of
different places. "Hedwig" was a saint, "Dumbledore" is an old English
word for "bumblebee," and "Snape" is the name of a place in England.
Saint Hedwig (in addition to being the Patron Saint of Silesia) is famed for being the Patron Saint of orphans, having opened several orphanages in Poland during the 13th Century.
In-universe, there's no canon explanation why "Saint Hedwig" would be included the "History of Magic" (possibly a famous half-blood wizard or witch grew up in one of the literally hundreds of St Hedwig's monasteries and orphanages around the world) but it's hardly surprising that Harry would gravitate toward the name of someone famed for caring for people who'd lost their parents.
Hedwig is named after Saint Hedwig
During an interview that she conducted in 2000, JK Rowling identified the root of many names used in the HP canon;
How do you come up with all the unique names, places, and things that help make Harry Potter so intriguing?
Many of the names are invented, for example "Quidditch" and "Muggle." I also collect unusual names, and I take them from all sorts of
different places. "Hedwig" was a saint, "Dumbledore" is an old English
word for "bumblebee," and "Snape" is the name of a place in England.
Saint Hedwig (in addition to being the Patron Saint of Silesia) is famed for being the Patron Saint of orphans, having opened several orphanages in Poland during the 13th Century.
In-universe, there's no canon explanation why "Saint Hedwig" would be included the "History of Magic" (possibly a famous half-blood wizard or witch grew up in one of the literally hundreds of St Hedwig's monasteries and orphanages around the world) but it's hardly surprising that Harry would gravitate toward the name of someone famed for caring for people who'd lost their parents.
edited Feb 8 '14 at 14:59
answered Feb 8 '14 at 1:54
ValorumValorum
411k11129923215
411k11129923215
Sorry, I am not sure I'm buying your logic (you yourself wrote the contradiction). There is no possible in-universe reason why a Christian Saint would be in "History of Magic" book.
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Feb 8 '14 at 14:46
Unless a famous muggle wizard happened to live in one of the literally hundreds of orphanages named after St Hedwig, for example. You might just as well ask why Mr Wool is included; harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Wool's_Orphanage
– Valorum
Feb 8 '14 at 14:48
now THAT's plausible (not as good as canon answer, but plausible). Put that into the answer, pls.
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Feb 8 '14 at 14:53
2
My guess is that there's no canon answer. The "history of magic" seems a bit of a dumping ground for plot points and names. Whenever Harry gets stumped, Hermione (or whoever) reads out a paragraph from the book that explains what a muggle is, or who Godric Gryffindow is or whatever...
– Valorum
Feb 8 '14 at 15:03
I assumed like Nicolas Flamel, she was also known in the muggle world as well as wizarding world.
– Bernard the Bear
Apr 27 '18 at 12:22
add a comment |
Sorry, I am not sure I'm buying your logic (you yourself wrote the contradiction). There is no possible in-universe reason why a Christian Saint would be in "History of Magic" book.
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Feb 8 '14 at 14:46
Unless a famous muggle wizard happened to live in one of the literally hundreds of orphanages named after St Hedwig, for example. You might just as well ask why Mr Wool is included; harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Wool's_Orphanage
– Valorum
Feb 8 '14 at 14:48
now THAT's plausible (not as good as canon answer, but plausible). Put that into the answer, pls.
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Feb 8 '14 at 14:53
2
My guess is that there's no canon answer. The "history of magic" seems a bit of a dumping ground for plot points and names. Whenever Harry gets stumped, Hermione (or whoever) reads out a paragraph from the book that explains what a muggle is, or who Godric Gryffindow is or whatever...
– Valorum
Feb 8 '14 at 15:03
I assumed like Nicolas Flamel, she was also known in the muggle world as well as wizarding world.
– Bernard the Bear
Apr 27 '18 at 12:22
Sorry, I am not sure I'm buying your logic (you yourself wrote the contradiction). There is no possible in-universe reason why a Christian Saint would be in "History of Magic" book.
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Feb 8 '14 at 14:46
Sorry, I am not sure I'm buying your logic (you yourself wrote the contradiction). There is no possible in-universe reason why a Christian Saint would be in "History of Magic" book.
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Feb 8 '14 at 14:46
Unless a famous muggle wizard happened to live in one of the literally hundreds of orphanages named after St Hedwig, for example. You might just as well ask why Mr Wool is included; harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Wool's_Orphanage
– Valorum
Feb 8 '14 at 14:48
Unless a famous muggle wizard happened to live in one of the literally hundreds of orphanages named after St Hedwig, for example. You might just as well ask why Mr Wool is included; harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Wool's_Orphanage
– Valorum
Feb 8 '14 at 14:48
now THAT's plausible (not as good as canon answer, but plausible). Put that into the answer, pls.
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Feb 8 '14 at 14:53
now THAT's plausible (not as good as canon answer, but plausible). Put that into the answer, pls.
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Feb 8 '14 at 14:53
2
2
My guess is that there's no canon answer. The "history of magic" seems a bit of a dumping ground for plot points and names. Whenever Harry gets stumped, Hermione (or whoever) reads out a paragraph from the book that explains what a muggle is, or who Godric Gryffindow is or whatever...
– Valorum
Feb 8 '14 at 15:03
My guess is that there's no canon answer. The "history of magic" seems a bit of a dumping ground for plot points and names. Whenever Harry gets stumped, Hermione (or whoever) reads out a paragraph from the book that explains what a muggle is, or who Godric Gryffindow is or whatever...
– Valorum
Feb 8 '14 at 15:03
I assumed like Nicolas Flamel, she was also known in the muggle world as well as wizarding world.
– Bernard the Bear
Apr 27 '18 at 12:22
I assumed like Nicolas Flamel, she was also known in the muggle world as well as wizarding world.
– Bernard the Bear
Apr 27 '18 at 12:22
add a comment |
I think its quite likely that Hedwig was a saint for both Muggles and Magical folk - the Magicals have a hospital named after a saint (St Mungo) so evidently, at some point the Magicals acknowledged saints.
New contributor
add a comment |
I think its quite likely that Hedwig was a saint for both Muggles and Magical folk - the Magicals have a hospital named after a saint (St Mungo) so evidently, at some point the Magicals acknowledged saints.
New contributor
add a comment |
I think its quite likely that Hedwig was a saint for both Muggles and Magical folk - the Magicals have a hospital named after a saint (St Mungo) so evidently, at some point the Magicals acknowledged saints.
New contributor
I think its quite likely that Hedwig was a saint for both Muggles and Magical folk - the Magicals have a hospital named after a saint (St Mungo) so evidently, at some point the Magicals acknowledged saints.
New contributor
New contributor
answered 17 mins ago
KiddoKiddo
1
1
New contributor
New contributor
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fscifi.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f45924%2fwho-was-the-hedwig-in-a-history-of-magic%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
I thought the most likely books to find in-universe info on who Hedwig might be would be CoS and TTOBB, but I couldn't find a reference in either (the e-book British versions anyway). Here is a link to the St. Hedwig reference at JKR's old FAQ via the Wayback Machine. Too bad she didn't elaborate. :)
– Slytherincess
Dec 7 '13 at 2:22
Doesn't have to be a "who", could be the name of a place
– user13267
Dec 7 '13 at 4:17
Hedwig was a famous bard who created the powerful spellsong the angry inch
– severa
Dec 7 '13 at 6:14
@severa - source?
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
Dec 7 '13 at 14:17
@DVK, I think this might be to what Severa referred calgarysun.com/2013/11/10/…
– balanced mama
Dec 7 '13 at 18:25