Where to Find One

If you're thinking about getting yourself a Harry Potter costume, you'll definitely need convincing Hogwarts robes, or perhaps a fashionable pointy hat. But there's just one more very important thing you need: A good wand. How and where do you find one?
You could always pick out a decent stick and pretend that's your wand. It's cheap-- can't get much better than free. You could even stain and varnish it. It'll get the idea across either way. Even so, you would still be waving around a stick. Wouldn't it be cool to wield a beautiful wand that looks like it was truly made by Ollivander himself?
If you don't mind shopping online, and you're willing to shell out some money for a decent wand, you have plenty of options. Amazon, for example, has a fair number of wands for sale. But if you want a quality wand, be careful: Most of the Harry Potter wands available on Amazon are cheap toys.
Now, if you want an accurate reproduction of a Harry Potter wand and can afford to spend at least $35, look into what Noble Collection has to offer. Noble Collection is known for recreating jewelry, swords, props, and other items you see in fantasy movies. The company sells wands modeled after the ones wielded by Harry, Ron, Hermione, and even Dolores Umbridge.
Unfortunately, the wands by Noble Collection aren't the most durable. Since each wand is made either partly or entirely from resin, they are quite fragile; they're for display only. If you want a beautiful wand that you wouldn't be afraid to take with you to a Halloween party, consider the wooden ones made by Whirlwood or Alivan's.
The Whirlwood wands are all handcrafted by Gary Hall, who's been creating fine art for over 30 years. Almost all his wands are made from solid maple wood. They are elegant and very strong-- even if you WANTED to break one, you'd have a hard time of it. You don't want to scuff them up, of course, but you don't have to be afraid to use one of these wands to complete your Harry Potter costume. They tend to start at $50, but they are high quality and worth the price.
Your other option is to buy a wooden wand from Alivan's. Although they don't look quite as nice as the Whirlwood wands, they are definitely worth looking into. They're cheaper, and Alivan's offers a wide variety.
Doubtless there are more options, but Noble Collection, Whirlwood, and Alivan's appear to offer the best.

The Potter Wand

Since the publication of the first Harry Potter book, magic wands have been making a comeback. With the popularity of the movies, people of all ages find themselves wishing they too, had a Potter Wand of their own.
There is something intriguing about the thought of being able to have a tool that focuses your will and creates magic. A wand is just such a tool. Proper wands are made of hardwoods or other natural materials. Plastic wands are okay for playing, but a true Potter Wand should be as real as possible. Some are decorative, some are plain. There is a design of wand for each individual. As Mr. Ollivander told Harry, "The wand chooses the wizard." In a way, they do. Even if you think you're the one making the conscious choice, the design of that particular wand spoke to you in some way. Maybe they really are magic.
Today, most wands are collectors' items. Perhaps we are indulging that longing for more magic in our lives. Some are used in ritualistic ceremonies, and others are playthings for children. No matter what the reason is for wanting a Potter Wand, the desire is to own one and hold it in your very own hand is strong.
Is it Harry's holly wand that you like best? Perhaps you prefer Ron's wand made of ash wood? Each type of wood has its own distinctive meanings that can serve you well in a potter wand, even if it will only be a collectors' item. Oak stands for strength and protection while willow stands for nurturing. Yew, which was the wood used for Voldemort's wand, stands for knowledge, yet it is known for its toxic qualities. Harry's holly stands for protection, yet it also has known toxic qualities, rather like Harry having to deal with the dark residues in his life from Voldemort. The meanings behind the wood can be a very good reason to choose the wand you like.
A wand can also make a terrific gift. Many people are enchanted by the world of Harry Potter. A gift of a real Potter Wand can be very meaningful to them. It doesn't matter if they are a child or an adult; the magic of Harry Potter and his world touches a lot of people. Children can use them as they play. Having such a realistic toy makes their imaginative play more exciting. Adults can cherish them for the workmanship and whatever meanings they give to them.
We all like to believe there is magic in our lives. Owning a Harry Potter Wand can make us all feel like we have a little of that magic that belongs solely to us. It makes it seem a little more probable that if we believe hard enough, we can make that magic real. For children, it makes all those fairytales seem true. For adults, it is a way to return to some of the carefree days of childhood, when faeries, magic spells and mystical creatures were a daily part of our lives.

Harry Potter Gift Ideas

Wands, Brooms, Books, and More
If you've got a young Harry Potter fanatic in the family, then Christmas and Birthday shopping just got a little easier. Thanks to the popularity of the stories and movies, there are many book sets, themed gifts, and even tasty candies for fans. Let's take a look at what's out there to give you some ideas:
Books and Book Sets
If the kids you're shopping for are already fans, they probably have all the books on their shelves, but if you're trying to get new readers interested in the series, giving them the books is a great way. You can start out with Book 1 (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, also called Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the US) or you might also get one of the nice gift sets that includes all seven novels.
A box set costs about $60 for the series in paperback or about $120 for hardbacks.
If you're trying to fill gaps in a partial collection, here is a list of all the books in the correct reading order:
Book Reading Order
Harry Potter and the...
1. Philosopher's Stone/Sorcerer's Stone
2. Chamber of Secrets
3. Prisoner of Azkaban
4. Goblet of Fire
5. Order of the Phoenix
6. Half-Blood Prince
7. Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter Wands, Brooms, and Other Toys and Gifts
If your young reader already has the books, then you may try other Harry Potter items as gifts. Just look online, and you can find all sorts of children's toys based on items from the series. Some of these are mass-produced gifts available at Amazon, Walmart, and the like, while others are lovingly crafted one-of-a-kinds (look for these on sites such as Etsy, which feature only handmade items).
Here are some ideas:
Harry's Wand
"Magic" Broom (replicas of the Nimbus 2000)
Sorting Hats
Movies on DVD
T-shirts and Caps
Stationary and Envelopes
Action Figures
Legos (The Durmstrang Ship is cool!)
Board Games (original games as well as JK Rowling versions of classics)
Pillows and Bedding
Robes and Halloween Costumes
Edible Harry Potter Gifts
While toys are always fun, it's hard to go wrong with gifts that kids can eat. In this category, you can find everything from Bertie Botts Every Flavor Jelly Beans (ketchup and pepper, anyone?) to custom cakes from the bakery (you'll have to order ahead of time, but many bakeries can do themed goodies).
If you fancy yourself a bit of a chef, you can also find recipes online that are inspired by the books. Try a Google search for "Harry Pottery recipes" if you long to make Cauldron Cakes, Jelly Slugs, or Pumpkin Juice.
There you have it: plenty of gift ideas for the young fantasy fans in your family. Christmas and birthday shopping should be a piece of cake this year!

An Introduction to the World of Magic Wands

"Wandlore is a complex and mysterious branch of magic."
Mr. Ollivander
Without question it is essential to find a magic wand that works. Especially in the world of Harry Potter wands where witches and wizards depend on them in their daily lives.
Wands are used by witches and wizards to channel their magic powers and to cast focused spells. It is commonly thought that a wand increases magical ability but in fact this is not true. A wand actually magnifies and focuses magic making it possible to create very powerful spells. It has been compared to the fire that is created by focused sunlight through a magnifying glass.
There are many things to consider when finding the right wand; it really is not as easy as you might think. For the most part the process is based on trial and error. When making a wand for a specific witch or wizard the elements that are used generally reflect their character. However, the best results are usually achieved when the wand chooses the owner.
Mr. Ollivander uses four criteria to classify wands in the world of Harry Potter wands. He describes the physical aspects of the wand by type of wood, length and core material. The quality of how the wand moves is the fourth component and is more subjective.
A single piece of wood is used the make each wand and at the center is a magical substance. The type of wood used to make Harry Potter wands often aligns with the date of birth according to the Celtic calendar. Phoenix feather, dragon heartstring, and tail of unicorn are the three magical centers used by Mr. Ollivander.
In the Celtic calendar a tree represents each month, and each tree is associated with specific powers and qualities. For example, Harry Potter was born on July 31st. His wand is made of Holly which coincides with his birthday. Holly is said to ward off evil and is a symbol for protection. It is also seen as a sign of hope because it is perennially green and has bright red berries during the winter. Phoenix feather is at the core of Harry's wand.
In the universe of Harry Potter wands, a wand is essential to witches and wizards. Many witches and wizards become very attached to their wand because they receive them at a young age. Without their wands they would feel lost and be unable to perform most magic.

Harry Potter Wands was created to share information about the world of Harry Potter and creating your own Hogwarts experience. Whether it's halloween or a birthday party it's a lot of fun to escape into the world of Harry Potter!

Harry Potter Illuminating Wand

 Harry Potter Illuminating Wand


A recreation of the famous wand.
Wave the wand and the light goes on
Wave it again, and it turns off!
Wand measures 14 inches in length.

Why you don’t make your own wand?

Why you don’t make your own wand? I just found this very cool site that gives instructions on how make your own wand out of a sheet of paper, a glue gun and some paint!

These could pass as film props. Check out the amazing quality!
 Until then,  the above pics of wands made by various other people who followed The instruction found here.

Harry potter Halloween costumes with wands

Many kids love to wear Harry potter Halloween costumes. It would be better if parents buy ready-made costumes because along with the costume they can also select robes, props, wigs and masks. Kids can even dress up like Gryffindor or Slytherin robes. There are Quid ditch robes to be had, and of course broomsticks to go with them, available separately. Kids can wear Sorting Hat, or, if they want an animal feel, they can be Harry's beloved owl, Hedwig. Adults can choose between being students or teachers, there are costumes for Dumbledore and Hag rid, as well as nasty scary creatures like Dementors. With glasses, cauldrons, scarves and magic wands galore, and entire group can be fitted out.
Apart from Harry potter, there are many nasty characters in the Harry potter universe. Some scary types are as follows: One of the nasty characters is Dolores Umbridge. A bureaucrat who punishes kids by making them carve "I must not tell lies" with their own blood? Everyone will scream when they see you coming. Fortunately, with the concurrent popularity of Hairspray, it’s very easy to find outfits that work as the evil Dolores.

Lucius and Draco Malfoy are considered as other famous characters in Harry Potter. A father and son can wear this type of costume. All you need are long dark robes and a long blond wig for Lucius. Add a walking stick and you're done. Draco needs short blond hair, which should be found in any costume shop. Bellatrix LeStrange is just for grown-up witches. You can trick the look with a black corset top, black leather trousers and boots, long black gloves, a choker and a scary mass of curly dark hair.


By Robert James