Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry once said; “While we may come from different places and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one.” This quote is the perfect example of what International Harry Potter Day means to fans across the world. No matter where you are from, what language you speak, or what your age may be, the world of Harry Potter is a truly magical place.
What Is International Harry Potter Day?
In 2012, the then prime minister of the UK, David Cameron, declared that May 2nd would forever be known as Harry Potter Day. But why this day? May 2nd is not Harry’s birthday nor does it have significance on the release of any of the books or movies. In fact, the year 2012 is nearly a decade after the first book was released! According to the books, May 2, 1998 was the epic Battle of Hogwarts – SPOILER – when Voldemort was finally defeated and all things good and courageous triumphed over evil.
A Magical History: The Books
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was first published in the United Kingdom in June 1997 and a year later, it was published in the United States under the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The book won most awards across Britain and The States, reaching the top of the New York Times bestseller list and remaining there for the foreseeable future. As each new book was released, (there are 7 in total); they also remained at the top of the bestseller list for weeks at a time. Each book has sold millions of copies, making it the best selling book series in history.
A Magical History: The Movies
Due to the global phenomenon of Harry Potter, it only makes sense that each book was made into a movie, with the final book being split into 2 parts. Between 2001 and 2011, 8 movies were released and much like the books, they were all box office hits, grossing billions of dollars worldwide. Currently, the Harry Potter movie franchise series sits at the top of the world’s highest grossing films, right along with Avengers: Endgame and the Star Wars films.
Celebrating International Harry Potter Day
The most obvious way to celebrate today would, of course, be to read the books or watch the films, but there are so many other ways to celebrate! Perhaps you can introduce The Wizarding World to your children with a quick explanation of who Harry Potter is, and what he was able to accomplish.
Some people like to sort themselves into one of the houses at Hogwarts; Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house stands for a different element and strength. There is no right or wrong house to be sorted into, everybody has their own unique abilities that are only strengthened when encouraged amongst others like you.
If your family is well-versed in the Harry Potter universe, you can invite others over for a trivia night and truly test your magical knowledge! Other ideas include; Harry Potter themed crafts, recipes, and of course, simply posting your favorite quotes or scenes on your social media accounts.
Friendship Always Wins
When announcing International Harry Potter Day, David Cameron said; “We hope that children and adults alike will be reminded of Harry Potter’s strong and courageous character on this day.” Even if you are unfamiliar with Harry Potter, the theme of the series is that friendship, courage, and determination are always the answers. Reach out to friends you haven’t heard from in awhile or perhaps participate in a random act of kindness and allow those three themes travel with you today, tomorrow, and the rest of this month!
