Who was the Hedwig in “A history of Magic”?












9
















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.










share|improve this question























  • 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
















9
















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.










share|improve this question























  • 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














9












9








9









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.










share|improve this question















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






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










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



















  • 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










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















6














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



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.






share|improve this answer


























  • 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



















0














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.






share|improve this answer








New contributor




Kiddo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.




















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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    6














    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



    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.






    share|improve this answer


























    • 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
















    6














    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



    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.






    share|improve this answer


























    • 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














    6












    6








    6







    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



    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.






    share|improve this answer















    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



    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.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    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



















    • 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













    0














    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.






    share|improve this answer








    New contributor




    Kiddo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.

























      0














      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.






      share|improve this answer








      New contributor




      Kiddo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.























        0












        0








        0







        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.






        share|improve this answer








        New contributor




        Kiddo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.










        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.







        share|improve this answer








        New contributor




        Kiddo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.









        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer






        New contributor




        Kiddo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.









        answered 17 mins ago









        KiddoKiddo

        1




        1




        New contributor




        Kiddo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.





        New contributor





        Kiddo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.






        Kiddo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.






























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