(Anonymous)
And of course that might apply to average British muggles of the present day - but since when does the wizarding World reflect the current-day muggle world over the muggle world of the past? More likely like Victorian England in some respects.
Christenings 'traditionally' (historically) are when you NAME a baby. Hence the term 'christening'. Until the child is christened he literally is not 'named'.
Wizards in Potterverse are not pagans. Note that Harry's parents rated a churchyard burial (as opposed to a graveyard unconnected to a church) along with quite a few other apparent wizarding families. It is most likely this very same church to which they took Harry for his christening.
And an unchristened baby who died could not be buried in a churchyard. It is not really so terribly long ago that waiting a week to christen the child was horrific. I may be wrong, but I think I remember this from Tess D'Urbervilles? But I would guess it was similar in the early part of the 20th century even - before infant mortality rates improved.
But specifically, Albus believes in some form of afterlife and he knows a prophecy might apply to either Harry or Neville and he apparently allowed the eavesdropper to leave to spread word of this to Voldy. In other words, he's quite aware that Voldy might try to kill one or both of these kids. It's bad enough that he doesn't send the parents into hiding until Snape converts - but after all - Voldy has to try for the kid to be marked. But he certainly ought to suggest speeding up the christenings just to be sure the boys could have a christian burial if Voldy succeeds.
Also - any idea whether the seven months before a christening is a statistic of current day or a statistic of 1980. The 80s saw a big change in much of Britain - especially in regards to aristocracy vs yuppies and the 'punk' era of the late 70s. Lily and James were mainstream - they would be more likely to be tradionalists in 'some' things. And I think James' first heir would be one of those things -- Hwyla
Christenings 'traditionally' (historically) are when you NAME a baby. Hence the term 'christening'. Until the child is christened he literally is not 'named'.
Wizards in Potterverse are not pagans. Note that Harry's parents rated a churchyard burial (as opposed to a graveyard unconnected to a church) along with quite a few other apparent wizarding families. It is most likely this very same church to which they took Harry for his christening.
And an unchristened baby who died could not be buried in a churchyard. It is not really so terribly long ago that waiting a week to christen the child was horrific. I may be wrong, but I think I remember this from Tess D'Urbervilles? But I would guess it was similar in the early part of the 20th century even - before infant mortality rates improved.
But specifically, Albus believes in some form of afterlife and he knows a prophecy might apply to either Harry or Neville and he apparently allowed the eavesdropper to leave to spread word of this to Voldy. In other words, he's quite aware that Voldy might try to kill one or both of these kids. It's bad enough that he doesn't send the parents into hiding until Snape converts - but after all - Voldy has to try for the kid to be marked. But he certainly ought to suggest speeding up the christenings just to be sure the boys could have a christian burial if Voldy succeeds.
Also - any idea whether the seven months before a christening is a statistic of current day or a statistic of 1980. The 80s saw a big change in much of Britain - especially in regards to aristocracy vs yuppies and the 'punk' era of the late 70s. Lily and James were mainstream - they would be more likely to be tradionalists in 'some' things. And I think James' first heir would be one of those things -- Hwyla