Tarantallegra
From Harry Potter Wiki
| Tarantallegra | |
|---|---|
| Incantation: |
Tarantallegra (tuh-RAHN-tuh-LEHG-rah) |
| Type: |
Jinx |
| Effect: |
Forces the victim to dance wildly |
Tarantallegra is a jinx used to force another person's legs to begin dancing uncontrollably. This spell has its origins in Italy but is best remembered for its improper usage by warlock Zaccaria Innocenti who is credited with conjuring a 'dance' within Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. [1] It is mainly used to make a victim do something hilarious, but it can be also be used in dueling.
Draco Malfoy cast this spell on Harry Potter in 1992 in the Dueling Club. Antonin Dolohov used it against Neville Longbottom during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.
[edit] Etymology
The Tarantella is a dance originating in Italy. It was believed to cure the effects of the bite of a Tarantula by causing the victim to sweat out the toxin. It wasn't until centuries later that scientists determined the Black Widow was actually the poisonous spider in question; people merely blamed the Tarantula because of is size.[2] Allegra may be derived from allegro, a musical tempo meaning "quick and lively"; or simply from the word "leg" as this is the only body part affected by the jinx.
