Today is the 20th Anniversary of Harry Potter
June 26th, 1997 was a day that changed the world of children's books forever, and I am eternally grateful.
I am 100% convinced that there are very few people out there who are more obsessed with the Harry Potter franchise than me. Honestly, my love of Harry Potter runs so deep that it's a little bit unhealthy. In fact, I just yesterday I said that I am already planning my future Harry Potter-themed wedding. I'm dead serious.
20 years ago today, after years of rejection, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was finally published. According to CNN, since then, over 450 million copies have been sold, and the novel has been translated into over 60 languages. The books have been credited for a boost in literacy in children, instilling empathy in children, and blazing the trail for other children's authors.
It's funny that Harry Potter is considered a children's book, because most people I know who love the series are adults. But, maybe that's because we started as kids. I didn't start reading Harry Potter until my mom took my brother and I to see the first movie in theaters in 2001. I was 10-years-old. I immediately went home and started reading the book, and the rest is history. Every time a new book would come out, my mom would take me to the store at midnight to pick up a copy, and I would read until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. I would usually finish them in around two days, and then I would read them again. I was absolutely CRUSHED when I didn't receive a letter telling me I was a witch on my 11th birthday. I'm still a little bitter about it. Thank God for J.K. Rowling's official Harry Potter website Pottermore, otherwise I would never know that I'm a Ravenclaw and a Thunderbird, or that my patronus is a pine marten.
I could go on forever about my love for the Harry Potter series, but I won't because this blog is already getting to be a little lengthy. I actually have a Harry Potter tattoo on my arm (that I plan on expanding at some point), and next year for my birthday I'm planning a solo trip to Orlando to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I may never come back.
Facebook is celebrating the anniversary with a cool feature - if you type "Harry Potter" or any Hogwarts house into a post, a cool little wand pops up when you click on it. Happy celebrating!
[Via CNN]