MuggleNet

Jan 20, 2025 | mugglenet.com | Beatrice Groves

by Dr. Beatrice GrovesToday is the Eve of St. Agnes – a day most famous in the literary world as the setting for John Keats’s poem of the same name. St. Agnes was a Roman virgin martyr, a friend to and protector of maidens, but (rather oddly, given the saint’s own miraculously preserved virginity) folklore grew up that if a young woman fasted and performed certain rites on St. Agnes’ Eve, she would dream of her future husband.

Jan 18, 2025 | mugglenet.com | Neave Williamson

After a very successful first foray into the world of wizarding food, Food Network has renewed Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking for a second season. The competition baking show, which first premiered in November, was an instant hit, with incredible ratings from its first episode. The show sees contestants designing and creating magical bakes to fit various wizarding world themes and locations.

Jan 13, 2025 | mugglenet.com | Neave Williamson

Both Stephen Fry, who narrated the UK versions of the Harry Potter audiobooks, and Warwick Davis, who played Professor Flitwick in the Harry Potter films, have started off 2025 with a bang. At the end of each year, the sovereign of the UK announces their New Year’s Honors List. Each person on the list receives an award, whether it be an OBE, an MBE, or any other title that the King or Queen can give.

Jan 13, 2025 | mugglenet.com | Laurie Beckoff

On this episode, we examine the relationship between humor and resistance to authoritarianism. Harry Potter scholar and stand-up comedian Mark-Anthony Lewis joins Katy and Emily to talk about what makes something funny. Benign violation theory says that humor is found in something safe – for example, you can laugh at someone falling if they aren’t seriously hurt, and you can tickle someone you know, but not a stranger. It’s all about context.

Dec 31, 2024 | mugglenet.com | Catherine Lai

It’s time for MuggleNet’s 2024 Year in Review. Despite challenges and controversy, the Harry Potter fandom continues to march on. And this year was filled with interesting and exciting developments regarding the planned Harry Potter television series, the upcoming Ministry of Magic land at Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe, and the various productions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.