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Halloween Great Hall Celebration

10/25/2021

With the spooky season upon us, there’s nothing better than getting into the Halloween spirit by popping on one of the Harry Potter films.

We particularly admire the enchanting decorations that can be seen when Professor Quirrel runs into the Great Hall, declaring, “Troll! In the dungeon!” in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party for your friends, decorating the front of your house with a Hagrid-sized pumpkin patch for trick-or-treaters, or planning a cozy night in with a Harry Potter movie marathon, we’ve got you covered for everything you’ll need for a Potter-filled Halloween!

In the Muggle world, there are a few aspects of Halloween that aren’t so magical. From buying new costumes and decorations, to filling cauldrons full of plastic-wrapped treats, to discarding carved pumpkins, Halloween can end up generating a lot of waste.

With that in mind, we’ve been thinking about the best eco-friendly ways to celebrate Halloween this year, while also crafting a celebration fit for the Great Hall at Hogwarts!

Vegan Pumpkin Juice Recipe

10/21/2021

While pumpkin-themed food and drink features all year round in the wizarding world, in the Muggle world it is synonymous with autumn - and more specifically, October.

This time of year, Hagrid’s pumpkin patch is bursting with garden-shed-sized pumpkins ripe for the picking (or in this case, juicing)! This drink is an iconic element of the Halloween feast at Hogwarts every year.

Our pumpkin juice recipe also has an autumnal-worthy twist! We devised our very own plant-powered version, including special notes from The HPP (Half-Plant Prince), which will give your drink maximum flavor!

Our recipe differentiates from many others out there in that we have added plant milk. We found that this makes it more creamy and comforting for autumn. So without further ado, let’s get brewing!

Ethical Animal Use? A Close Look at High School Dissection and Harry Potter’s Potions Class

10/15/2021

Crushed snake fangs, stewed horned slugs, Ashwinder eggs, Bicorn horns…these are just a few of the things you’ll find in Professor Snape’s Potions storeroom.

From dragonhide gloves to unicorn hair wand cores, we see plenty of animal products being used in daily wizarding life, yet we don’t see any discussions happen about animal rights or welfare within the series. Hermione stands up for the rights of elves used in houses but doesn’t question how Bicorn horns are collected and sold for her to throw into her Polyjuice Potion.

It’s an accepted part of ordinary wizarding life. Students are expected to use these ingredients as part of their mandatory classes – similar to how Muggle students are required to dissect a frog or other animal in their Biology classes.

But if you think about how many students need to do this each year, that comes out to millions of animals being killed and preserved for a dissection experience that students may not believe in or even need the skills for in a future career.

The Meaning Behind Potion Ingredient Names

10/4/2021

Whether you’re brewing Murtlap Essence in Severus Snape’s dungeon, winning a vial of Felix Felicis from Horace Slughorn, or secretly concocting Polyjuice Potion inside of Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, the art of potion-making is one which often causes a stir in animal rights circles.

Despite the intertwining between the magical properties of potion-making and herbal healing, we often read the ingredients lists in the Potter universe with horror. Think murtlap tentacles, bat spleens, and billywig wings to name just a few!

It begs the question, do vegans and animal rights activists have a place in the Potions classroom at Hogwarts? And if so, are these jaw-dropping ingredients all they appear to be?

The Most Animal-Friendly Characters in the Wizarding World

9/28/2021

Whether dozing in the Owlery to escape the cold or digging through the earth in search of buried gold, magical creatures abound in all corners of the wizarding world. There are countless examples of their relationships with humans - both good and bad.

While there are many notable “creature” moments throughout the Harry Potter series, such as the persecution of Buckbeak the hippogriff, many of them are more nuanced; namely, the use of animals in potion-making, Fred and George Weasley’s Pygmy Puff (“designer” Puffskein) breeding, and the revelation that the Hogwarts carriages that “pull themselves” are drawn by Thestrals.

When it came to compiling this list of “most animal friendly characters,” we solemnly swore to leave no stone unturned! At the same time - and to use a “Newtonian” phrase - it may have involved “just a smidge” of reading between the lines, particularly for characters who don’t feature as prominently in the books, but who definitely have the character and credentials for “animal-worthy” activism.

‘Mandrakes Feel Pain! And Other Magical Vegan Myths’ - Interview with Courtney Crisfield of Northern Star Productions

9/17/2021

Northern Star Productions was founded by Courtney Crisfield and Bayne Orion Bradshaw, two talented actors and creators who also happen to be vegan activists.

Based in Australia, the dynamic duo has been hard at work writing, producing, directing, AND acting in multiple projects that make up their Lights Up: Animal Activism Through Fiction anthology series.

Among these projects is one that greatly piqued our interest: Mandrakes Feel Pain! And Other Magical Vegan Myths. It poses the question of what would happen if a vegan attended Hogwarts.

To put it simply, this is right up our Diagon Alley!

Interview with Ellie Darcey-Alden

9/7/2021

It’s not every day your young witch turns 22. In celebration of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” actress Ellie Darcey-Alden’s recent birthday, we’re taking a moment to honor her and the fantastic activism that she has been partaking in.

The British actress and Oxfordshire native made her big debut in the Potter film franchise when she appeared as the young Lily Evans. The small role launched the ginger-haired Gryffindor straight into the hearts of Potterheads all around the world. Ellie’s five minutes of screentime left such an impression that she is still showered with love by fans 10 years later.

Ellie’s compassion for animals and her commitment to veganism led us to admire her more than we already did. We’re proud to welcome Ellie into The Protego Foundation as our very first official Ambassador!

Now dwelling in Los Angeles and balancing her acting career with a side job as a nanny for a vegan family, Ellie has been exploring ways to become a better vegan, activist, and advocate for animals and the planet.

We had the exclusive opportunity to speak with Ellie about the animal rights and welfare causes that mean the most to her, what inspires her as a vegan, and her tips on being an environmentally-conscious animal supporter on even the tightest budget.

Here’s what Ellie had to say.

Harry Potter New York Review

8/31/2021

June 3rd, 2021 marked the grand opening of Harry Potter New York. The unveiling of the new store had a bit of a rainy start. But, as Ron Weasley oh-so-cheerfully suggested to Harry in Prisoner of Azkaban, we weren’t going to let the Muggles (or in this case, weather forecast) get us down. A dreary morning of lashing rain and gray skies wasn’t enough to deter the colorful crowd of people lined up on the New York City streets of the Flatiron District.

Among them? Some of the team from The Protego Foundation!

With as much excitement as queuing up for the Quidditch World Cup or one of the original Harry Potter midnight book releases, Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, Gryffindors, and Slytherins all united to explore (and maybe even plunder) the untold depths of magical merch at New York’s very own (and the world’s first) flagship Harry Potter store.

The Protego Foundation was there among the thousands of magical people who passed through the hallowed halls of the store on the very day it opened to the public.

Vegan Butterbeer Recipe

8/25/2021

Ah, butterbeer. There's no denying that it's the most popular drink found in the wizarding world.

If you've ever found yourself daydreaming about cozying up in a booth at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade with a warm mug of butterbeer in hand, we're right there with you.

Or perhaps you'd prefer your butterbeer bottled and chilled, straight from the cellar of the Hog's Head (sans dust). Luckily, we have a recipe that can be prepared either way!

We think Harry, who's been known as an avid butterbeer fan since he first tasted it in his third year, would approve of this simple, frothy, and delicious recipe!

10 Vegan Recipes from “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”

8/20/2021

After spending two years within the magical walls of Hogwarts Castle, it’s understandable that leaving the wizarding world behind for the summer holidays in the Muggle world at the beginning of Prisoner of Azkaban was such a dismal thought to Harry Potter, especially since he had to spend months with his dreaded Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and Dudley Dursley.

However, to Harry’s delight, in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, he didn’t end up spending much time with the Dursleys between the end of his second year and the start of his third.

After accidentally blowing up his Aunt Marge, Harry packed his belongings, found himself on the Knight Bus, and ended up at the Leaky Cauldron, spending the remainder of his summer basking in the glory of Diagon Alley.

Between his daily ice cream sundaes from Florean Fortescue's and discovering Butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks, we'd say that Harry had a pretty good year when it came to food!

As our own summer season comes to an end, we thought we’d put together some delicious recipes from Prisoner of Azkaban for you to enjoy!

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The Protego Foundation and its activities are not licensed by, sponsored by or associated with Warner Bros., J.K. Rowling, or their affiliates. 'Wizarding World,' 'Harry Potter,' ‘Fantastic Beasts' and all related names, characters and indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. - Harry Potter publishing rights © J.K. Rowling.