New Year resolutions in the world of Harry Potter

The New Year is on the horizon for us muggles. But what was New Year, and resolutions, like fro Harry Potter and the rest of the Wizarding World.

New Year’s Eve and Day feature in the Wizarding World. This is not necessarily always a positive time though, as Lord Voldemort himself was born on New Year’s Eve and was most certainly not a reforming character!

Nonetheless, one would wonder what New Year’s Resolutions Wizards could have? In our world, people might make resolutions about travelling more, or doing more hobbies. In the Wizard world, resolutions could be to jinx less Muggles, or get better at potions, or something. There also might be a group resolution such as to win the House Cup. Especially by Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students who seem to be shut out somewhat in the bitter Gryffindor-Slytherin struggle.

More from Harry Potter

• Tom Felton is the star of the new Harry Potter x CASETiFY collection
• Create a magical event worthy of Hogwarts with this new Harry Potter-themed party planning book
• Can Fantastic Beasts hold up to the Harry Potter franchise?
• Show off your Wizard’s Chess skills with this Harry Potter set that’s now over half off
• Harry Potter continues to inspire generations – including Jack Harlow

The beginning of each year seems somewhat frantic at Hogwarts. Passwords are changed each year as there is a sudden rush back to things at Hogwarts after Christmas, just like in our own world. So even with Wizards changes occur each year.

Each year also brings new changes to Harry Potter and his development. Harry in the first book and film is a relatively naïve individual but this changes very quickly as he begins to understand the huge burden upon him. Although his long goal is to obviously to survive Voldemort, each year he manages to overcome different obstacles.

In the first new year it is fitting into Hogwarts as a school. In the second it is confronting the pure blood prejudices that exist throughout the year whether from Draco Malfoy or Tom Riddle himself. By the time of the third year he is maturing into a teenager and has to cope with teen angst, while in the fourth year it is all about magical co-operation and beginning to understand the international world of Wizardly through the Triwizard Tournament.

It is perhaps though in the last three years that Harry really becomes his own. In his fifth year he has to deal with increased mental instability as a result of Voldemort attempting to break into his psyche and his eventual overcoming of this when he realised that his ability to feel and give love was what separated him from Voldemort. The sixth year saw the final development of Harry when he understood that some things are worse than death such as losing your soul. And the seventh year sees the final defeat of Lord Voldemort.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc

Watch your favorite shows on fuboTV: Watch over 67 live sports and entertainment channels with a 7-day FREE trial!

By contrast, Voldemort despite being born on New Year’s Eve never makes any progression in terms of human development. Oh, Voldemort certainly acquires knowledge and increased power but this is never used to the betterment of anyone other than himself. Even this is doubtful given that the toll that the Horcruxes take on Voldemort’s body and what is left of his soul.  Voldemort remains as cold a person as the snowy night he was born back in 1926.

Yet, there was a third character Dumbledore who changed significantly within each year.  Whereas in the early books and films he is welcoming and protective, during the mid-series particularly in the 4th and 5th books and films, he deliberately makes a resolution to be somewhat distant from Harry, Ron and Hermione. This is because of Dumbledore’s desire to protect Harry by keeping certain things from him. However, he wisely reverses this strategy in the 6th year ensuring that Harry is fully versed in all he needs to know before Dumbledore meets his own date with destiny in the Astronomy Tower on the 30th June 1997.

New Year’s Resolutions can vary from the very small to the very big. They are sometimes silly sometimes serious and often not kept at all but change is an important part of human development. Despite Voldemort being born on New Year’s Eve at the hinge of a New Year, he never shows any desire to change. This is in part what makes Voldemort so frightening and sets him apart. He has the fanatical belief that the world should turn for him not he for the world. Right through to the end, Voldemort remains committed to his greed for power above all things even death.

New Year’s Resolutions can allow for change and growth in character no matter how small or big they might be. This gradual but profound change is lost on Voldemort but not on Harry or Dumbledore.

Have a Happy New Year everyone!