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Authors: Tere Stouffer
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the wand chooses the wizard, not the other way around.
Wood Species and Sizes
Wands range in size from 7 inches to 16 inches, but could, technically, be any length. Wands are crafted from any of the following species, and based on the propensities of that species, may range from rigid to downright springy:
• Ash: Ash is from the genus Fraxinus and is a member of the olive family. The wood is hard and springy, which is why it’s also used to make broomsticks (see Chapter 5). Greek mythological nymphs (young, beautiful nature goddesses) of the ash trees, called meliae, were born when the god Uranus was castrated by his son, and the blood spilled onto the ground. In Norse mythology, an ash tree called Yggdrasil is considered the axis of the universe, not only providing protection and nourishment for all the creatures in the world but also bearing the wounds of the damage done by its inhabitants. Life literally could not have existed without this great ash tree. Also according to Norse mythology, the first man and woman were formed from trees, and the man, named Ask, came from an ash tree.
• Beech (or beechwood): Beech trees, tall and gray-barked, tend to grow near lakes and oceans, because of their propensity for sandy soil. From the genus Fagus , this hardwood is light yellow in color. Beech is relatively inexpensive, and woodworkers find it easy to work with; thus, it’s an economical choice for wand-making.
• Cherry: This is, of course, the tree from which cherry fruit comes; cherry wood is a golden hardwood (from the genus Prunus ) that darkens to a deep red over time and is highly valued. Magically, it has been thought of as an excellent wood for divination (see also “Willow”). Long associated with earthiness and environmentalism, cherry is the subject of Chekhov’s play The Cherry Orchard, which tells of the demise of a beautiful cherry orchard, cut down to make way for a housing development.
• Ebony: A tropical hardwood (from the genus Diospyros ) that is especially heavy and usually almost black in color, which may explain its reputation as the most magical of all woods. It is related to the persimmon.
• Holly: Holly wood (from the genus Ilex ) is a white hardwood that comes from tall trees, a variety related to the small evergreen shrubs used to celebrate Christmas (the name comes from the word “holy”). Long used in Celtic regions, holly is known to have the magical powers of protection, purity, and strength, making it a good fit for Harry Potter’s wand, which was made from holly.
• Hornbeam: From the genus Carpinus of the birch family, hornbeam is a very hard, almost white wood that is often used when strength is a necessity as with the handles of fine tools. In fact, hornbeam is so hard that it’s difficult to work with, so crafting a wand of hornbeam is no easy task.
• Mahogany: Mahogany is a tropical tree of the genus Swietenia that is characterized by its dark, reddish-brown color. It is an expensive wood that is used when durability is called for, such as in furniture and boat-making. The wand of James Potter, Harry’s father, was made of mahogany.
• Maple: A tree from the genus Acer , this light-colored hardwood has distinctive leaves that can vary from golden to deep red in autumn; the sap is used to make maple syrup. Although most people think of maple wood as a blond—sometimes almost peach—color, maple woods can be plain and light or wildly marked and darker golden.
• Oak: Oak trees, which bear acorns, are from the genus Quercus and produce a hardwood that yields a dark, golden wood. Mythological stories associate the oak tree with strength (oak trees were sacred to Zeus); it is no wonder that the half-giant Hagrid used a wand made of oak. The Celts revered oak trees and considered oak groves to be sacred places; in fact, the word druid, which refers to the poets, priests, fortunetellers, divinators, and other magicians of the Celtic world, literally means
Wood Species and Sizes
Wands range in size from 7 inches to 16 inches, but could, technically, be any length. Wands are crafted from any of the following species, and based on the propensities of that species, may range from rigid to downright springy:
• Ash: Ash is from the genus Fraxinus and is a member of the olive family. The wood is hard and springy, which is why it’s also used to make broomsticks (see Chapter 5). Greek mythological nymphs (young, beautiful nature goddesses) of the ash trees, called meliae, were born when the god Uranus was castrated by his son, and the blood spilled onto the ground. In Norse mythology, an ash tree called Yggdrasil is considered the axis of the universe, not only providing protection and nourishment for all the creatures in the world but also bearing the wounds of the damage done by its inhabitants. Life literally could not have existed without this great ash tree. Also according to Norse mythology, the first man and woman were formed from trees, and the man, named Ask, came from an ash tree.
• Beech (or beechwood): Beech trees, tall and gray-barked, tend to grow near lakes and oceans, because of their propensity for sandy soil. From the genus Fagus , this hardwood is light yellow in color. Beech is relatively inexpensive, and woodworkers find it easy to work with; thus, it’s an economical choice for wand-making.
• Cherry: This is, of course, the tree from which cherry fruit comes; cherry wood is a golden hardwood (from the genus Prunus ) that darkens to a deep red over time and is highly valued. Magically, it has been thought of as an excellent wood for divination (see also “Willow”). Long associated with earthiness and environmentalism, cherry is the subject of Chekhov’s play The Cherry Orchard, which tells of the demise of a beautiful cherry orchard, cut down to make way for a housing development.
• Ebony: A tropical hardwood (from the genus Diospyros ) that is especially heavy and usually almost black in color, which may explain its reputation as the most magical of all woods. It is related to the persimmon.
• Holly: Holly wood (from the genus Ilex ) is a white hardwood that comes from tall trees, a variety related to the small evergreen shrubs used to celebrate Christmas (the name comes from the word “holy”). Long used in Celtic regions, holly is known to have the magical powers of protection, purity, and strength, making it a good fit for Harry Potter’s wand, which was made from holly.
• Hornbeam: From the genus Carpinus of the birch family, hornbeam is a very hard, almost white wood that is often used when strength is a necessity as with the handles of fine tools. In fact, hornbeam is so hard that it’s difficult to work with, so crafting a wand of hornbeam is no easy task.
• Mahogany: Mahogany is a tropical tree of the genus Swietenia that is characterized by its dark, reddish-brown color. It is an expensive wood that is used when durability is called for, such as in furniture and boat-making. The wand of James Potter, Harry’s father, was made of mahogany.
• Maple: A tree from the genus Acer , this light-colored hardwood has distinctive leaves that can vary from golden to deep red in autumn; the sap is used to make maple syrup. Although most people think of maple wood as a blond—sometimes almost peach—color, maple woods can be plain and light or wildly marked and darker golden.
• Oak: Oak trees, which bear acorns, are from the genus Quercus and produce a hardwood that yields a dark, golden wood. Mythological stories associate the oak tree with strength (oak trees were sacred to Zeus); it is no wonder that the half-giant Hagrid used a wand made of oak. The Celts revered oak trees and considered oak groves to be sacred places; in fact, the word druid, which refers to the poets, priests, fortunetellers, divinators, and other magicians of the Celtic world, literally means
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