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College of Wizardry Now Accepting Applications

By Kelly Mancaruso

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Still upset you never got that Hogwarts letter? Lucky for you, you can attend the College of Wizardry!

"“Imagine our world, just as it is today. Except that magic is real. The world of magic exists in the shadows of our own mundane world – undiscovered by billions, but known to the initiated. It’s a world of tradition and old bloodlines, of secrets and mysteries. It is a world of wise sorcerers, powerful witches, and dark-hearted conjurers” –Official College of Wizardry Design Document"

For four days, you can stay at the enchanted Czocha Castle in Poland where you – along with 140 other wizards and witches – will be sorted into an ancient house, learn how to cast spells, make potions, duel with wands, and much more. You even get your very own study book, wand, robe and tie.

According to the official website, the “College of Wizardry is a four-day Wizard School LARP event, where you can act out your dreams of being a student witch or wizard at a beautiful fairytale castle in Poland.” If you’re unfamiliar with the term “LARP,” it stands for “live action role-playing.”

At College of Wizardry you will:

  • Attend classes as a witch or wizard and learn the magical arts
  • Be selected to represent one of the five ancient Houses of Czocha Castle
  • Explore the castle and meet the magical creatures that roam the grounds
  • Make new friends and form long lasting bonds with like-minded people
  • Get into discussions, stir up shenanigans, and play games
  • Spend three nights at a castle in Poland and have a once-in-a-lifetime adventure
  • Perhaps even a little (in-character) romance? (Oh, hey! Maybe you can find the Harry to your Ginny or Hermione to your Ron… but hopefully not the Lily to your Snape…)

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I am very intrigued by the “meet magical creatures” that roam the grounds statement. Maybe the local wildlife enjoys LARPing as much as us humans do and get in on the action? I am also intrigued by the FIVE magical houses and what “magical arts” will be taught. You can find out all of this and more – including the schedule of the four days, history and rules of the LARP – in the 88(!) page Design Document on the website. I actually highly recommend reading this as it gives you insight into its own magical world, including history and traditions. Obviously, nothing can top Rowling’s Potterverse, but this is still pretty fascinating. Seems like there is a great basis for a novel in there actually…

Here is a little bit about the five houses according to the Design Document:

House Molin

Attributes: Loyalty & Cunning
Symbol: Golem (symbol of the Jewish kabbalists)
Colors: Green & Bronze
Founder: Jakob Abraham Molin (Legendary Jewish wizard and kabbalist)
Culture: Based on Jewish culture

House Libussa

Attributes: Foresight, Daring & Creativity
Symbol: Silver Lion (The heraldic symbol of Bohemia)
Colors: Purple & White
Founder: Libuše (One of the three founding mothers of Bohemia and a famous seer)
Culture: Based on Czech culture

House Sendivogius

Attributes: Courage, Honor & Diplomacy
Symbol: White Phoenix (The traditional symbol of immortality, and similar to the heraldic symbol of Poland- the white eagle)
Colors: Red & Silver
Founder: Michał Sędziwój (Sendivogius Polonus. Famous Polish alchemist)
Culture: Based on Polish culture

House Durentius

Attributes: Diligence & Valor
Symbol: Rooster (other houses often make fun of Durentius students because of this. It’s a rooster because of the legend, that Durentius went to the moon and back on the back of a rooster)
Colors: Orange & Brown
Founder: Laurentius Dhur (Master of Dark Arts from the Jagellonian University, originally from western Silesia. Known in Polish legends as Pan Twardowski)
Culture: Based on Silesian culture

House Faust

Attributes: Knowledge & Power
Symbol: Dragon (the symbol of Mephistopheles)
Colors: Blue & Gold
Founder: Johann Georg von Faust (Famous German wizard. He lived his life according to the saying “Wisdom is might”)
Culture: Based on German culture

Based on that information, I would guess I would be sorted into House Libussa, although I’m far from “daring”…

Now, if you have read this far and are still interested (and you are at least 18 years old), tickets for 2016 are on sale for April 21-24 and November 17-20 and can be purchased on the website for around $409 (includes food and accommodation at the castle). Tickets are selling fast though (the first event in April is already sold out)!

Who’s in? Let us know in the comments. Also, tell us if you know of any other awesome Harry Potter-esque LARPing experiences.

(Photo credit: Christina Molbech)

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