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DECEMBER 15, 2003 at 10:46 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: Tip
First lady Laura Bush has decorated the White House for Christmas this year with a little Potter flair. The boy wizard is just one literary character featured in the theme of children's stories "that have captured our hearts and shaped American culture."
From the official White House holiday site
:
Since stories bring us together, we've brought some favorite children's storybook characters to the White House to celebrate the holidays. Our thanks to the Executive Residence staff members who recreated the characters. And special thanks to the authors and illustrators who have given us the stories we celebrate.
"I picked most of the books, since I'm a former librarian and lifelong reader," said Bush of the decorations. "So I picked books that were important to me as a child, or that I liked to read to children. That was fun."
While giving a tour of the White House, Bush showed off the holiday trimmings to the press, ending with: "Finally, our newest huge bestseller, Harry Potter, which are the books I read this summer," she added. "I read all five of the Harry Potter books. I loved reading those."
Thanks to HPANA member The One Who Must Be Named for sending in the pictures.
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Astro Zombie
Points: 2603
Fallen Bomb says:
Those look cool but about the shaped american culture is weird cause Harry comes from England.
Posted Dec 15, 2003 at 11:09 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1283
harryp123, bar keep says:
Woohoo I might be second. That is cool that the White House is decorating some places with Harry Potter stuff. Cool.
Posted Dec 15, 2003 at 11:11 PM EST
Witch
Points: 681
SiriusLove says:
jerbear,
Harry Potter has had as much impact on the American Culture than any American children's literature. This is a Good Thing. ;)
Posted Dec 15, 2003 at 11:14 PM EST
Head Boy
Points: 411
Dumbledores Army says:
Wow, that is actually quite cool.
I never would expected the White House to be decked out with a Harry Potter theme.
I guess this is to try to get the younger voters to vote for him in the upcoming elections... heh.
Posted Dec 15, 2003 at 11:39 PM EST
Patronus
Points: 3704
Expecto Patronum says:
How cool!! Finally a first lady with good taste! :) Those decorations look awesome I'm glad she made HP a part of the children's lit theme I hope HP lives forever!
Posted Dec 15, 2003 at 11:52 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 434
Tippytoes says:
Awww..isn't that cute! Makes it all sentimental with your favorite book.
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 12:09 AM EST
Witch
Points: 552
Gir Vasquez says:
That's great! Well at least Mrs. Bush can do something right. The decorations look amazing. Good to see someone in the white house having good taste.
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 12:24 AM EST
Student
Points: 218
Lunakitty says:
I'm going to have to offer another post stating dislike of Mr. Bush, but now holding a much higher opinion of the missus. :)
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 12:25 AM EST
Student
Points: 295
Astarte says:
This is a cool story...but I still don't like you Bush.
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 1:17 AM EST
Crookshanks Caretaker
Points: 3837
hermionefan1 says:
The first lady rocks! That awesome thats she likes Harry Potter and has read all the books. HP rules ALL!!!!!
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 2:19 AM EST
The Girl Who Lived
Points: 4219
Tacha says:
I'm also not a Bush fan, but the first lady is ok. I am a bit jealous of the decorations though, wish I had something like that.
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 3:17 AM EST
Witch
Points: 645
Stage Violence says:
I think it was an awesome idea to use book characters for the holiday theme at the White House.
And to some people above, I am sure it has nothing to do with getting younger voters...study politics, you might learn a thing or two...
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 3:24 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1397
Annacy says:
That's really cool. Harry made it to the White House!
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 3:51 AM EST
Squib
Points: 153
Tar says:
Well ... er .. good for her, i suppose that's 1 point - but there's she's still minus a billion in my view for marrying someone like Bush.
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 4:18 AM EST
Student
Points: 239
bongy15 says:
Very...interesting. I wouldn't have ever thought for one minute that people would go as far as to do something like that for CHRISTMAS...strange! But each to their own. It's great to hear that she's that much of a fan of Harry Potter. Two thumbs up!
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 6:39 AM EST
Transfiguration Professor
Points: 2990
Choralee says:
Decorations for Christmas can come from anywhere now, bongy15 - even from books! I for one like to see the HP fa club spread to the White House. Laura Bush is very influential in the US reading world and I think it is great that she supports Harry Potter AND is a very Christian woman. So there to all those people who say it is something other than Christianity that influences JK's books...
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 6:51 AM EST
Points: 7828
Rococoed says:
Though I am no longer much a supporter of President Bush, the First Lady has earned my respect by being a fan of the Harry Potter series. I don't think that this is, as some other posters assumed, an attempt to get Potter fans in support of Bush for next year's election (or next month's caucus in my state of Iowa). Those decorations look so cute...^_^
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 8:54 AM EST
Werewolf
(Moderator)
Points: 5479
MoonyDawn says:
Cool! We all have something in common with Mrs Bush. She is probably just as obsessed as we are! She could be on this web site right now!!!
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 9:04 AM EST
Points: 175
InvaderGaz says:
I like the Bushes. I have a lot of respect for them. This is just another reason why. I love those decorations. I, myself, am trying to make a hogwarts castle :)
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 9:46 AM EST
Sirius Black's Widow
Points: 2476
DanielleG says:
How wonderful! Go Laura! I wonder if she has seen the t-shirt that says "Voldemort/Ashcroft 2004"
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 10:23 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1092
quidditch_queen says:
That is really cool. I wish can do something like that in my house but my grandma' doesn't like him so i can't. To bad. Hehe.
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 10:30 AM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 9051
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
Thanks for putting this up Cheeser. It is really wonderful to see how Harry Potter has made it so quickly into the important stories that merit recognition. Hard to beleive that no one, other than JKR, knew about Harry Potter ten years ago.
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 10:40 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2034
Professor Snape says:
Thats being a hardcore Harry Potter fan right there, having all kind of christmas stuff up and right in the middle a harry potter stature. haha.
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 10:55 AM EST
Student
Points: 223
dreamngirl24_7 says:
That's really cool how she decorated the white house. I would love to go there and see it now when it's all decorated. It is a very nice model and I would love to see what other models of different stories they have.
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 11:17 AM EST
Points: 175
InvaderGaz says:
Right on Eliza Hellsbottom.
Of course its only a matter of a few, oh, hours before the press gets on this and say its to get him re-elected and make a big scandal out of it.
Or perhaps they could do the complete opposite and pretend it never happened, it might be to big a risk for them to associate any Bush with something good.
Anyway, I wonder what that statue is made of. Any guesses? Im doing mine out of wood and foam and it is going to be pretty big. Is anyone else here making a model? I think it would make a good contest, but I think that area of hobby is kind of dead due to mail order, not to metion most people dont want to sit down and make something like that anymore. No patience. :(
To all you people who say you cant find any HP decorations, why dont you just make your own? it doesnt take that much skill or money to accomplish.
To whoever asked what HP has to do with Christmas, she selected a theme of decoration to go by, which was books.
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 11:33 AM EST
Squib
Points: 166
Kathryn Leblanc says:
I am waiting for the Religious nuts to start complaining about Satanic icons in the White House. Sigh. Does it seem to you that everything fun seems to be a sin to some people? I think it's lovely that Mrs. Bush likes the books, I had no idea she was once a librarian. Can we have well-read, educated people in the White House? Isn't there a law against that or something? Heh, heh.
Posted Dec 16, 2003 at 11:52 AM EST
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