{"id":12517,"date":"2017-06-26T13:51:43","date_gmt":"2017-06-26T17:51:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=12517"},"modified":"2017-06-26T13:51:43","modified_gmt":"2017-06-26T17:51:43","slug":"boy-lived-will-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2017\/06\/boy-lived-will-live.html","title":{"rendered":"The Boy Who Lived and Will Live On"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"jk_rowling\"<\/a>June 26, 1997, exactly 20 years ago from today is the day that the wizard world and muggle world finally intermingled.\u00a0 Today marks the 20th<\/sup> anniversary of the first Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher\u2019s (Sorcerer\u2019s in the U.S.) Stone, being published. Despite how well known and loved the series is it\u2019s hard to believe that it didn\u2019t have the quickest start up. In J.K. Rowling terms she received \u201cloads\u201d of rejections at first.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t until a small publishing company, Bloomsbury, took to the story and spells from the boy who lived and decided to take a chance on Harry and his gang.<\/p>\n

The Harry Potter success rate is nothing short of magical. \u00a0Originally, only 500 hardback copies were released and around 300 copies were distributed to libraries.\u00a0 The book didn\u2019t receive much uproar until The Scotsman<\/em> wrote a notable review that drew some attention. It claimed that the story had \u201call the makings of a classic,\u201d and that it did. It took over a span of 10 years for the full series to be published. More than 450 million copies of the novels have been sold since the first release date. They have also been translated into a little over 60 languages.\u00a0 The eight films show a success rate all on their own as well with raking in more than $2 billion dollars. Collectively, the novels and films are valued at around $15 billion dollars. Universal Studios with its two locations in Orlando, FL and Hollywood, CA have also had huge success rates with the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.\u00a0 The parks depict the favorite locations such as King\u2019s Cross Station, Hogsmeade village and even the Hogwarts castle. The sections host rides, stores, walk-through interactions and eateries all mentioned in the novels.<\/p>\n

So many people have taken an appreciation for the series and are celebrating today. Facebook and Twitter even casted a few spells of their own to make today even more magical. When the words \u201cHarry Potter,\u201d \u201cGryffindor,\u201d \u201cRavenclaw,\u201d \u201cHufflepuff,\u201d or \u201cSlytherin,\u201d are typed in a post they will show up in their prized house colors.\u00a0 Also, if those Harry Potter-related words are touched a magic wand appears and sends a few sparks. Twitter has also shown its commemoration by using the hashtag \u201c#HarryPotter20\u201d with its own crooked glasses and lightning bolt emoji to add. \u00a0Some are posting on Twitter in reply to well written tweet by J.K. Rowling saying, \u201c20 years ago today a world that I had lived in alone was suddenly open to others.\u00a0 It\u2019s been wonderful. Thank you. #HarryPotter20.\u201d\u00a0 Rowling has already received over 10,000 comments on the tweet from loving and appreciative fans.<\/p>\n

Bloomsbury, the publishing company, has taken its own efforts to celebrate the boy in the cupboard under the stairs. A few days prior to the anniversary they organized a gathering to break a world record. They invited local kids of Bolton, UK to gather at Town Hall and asked them to dress as Harry Potter with robe, glasses, and wand.\u00a0 With at least 700 kids in attendance, the Guinness World Record of \u201cLargest gathering of people dressed as Harry Potter\u201d was broken. Bloomsbury has also taken today to release four new editions of the first Harry Potter book each one decked out in the colors and crest of each Hogwarts house.\u00a0 The paperback and hardback are decorated with different designs. There is also content in the in the new editions that was not featured in the original copies.<\/p>\n

20 years ago a true idol was introduced to the muggle world and is celebrated today for all of the amazing things that he has brought.\u00a0 Harry Potter showed the world bravery and introduced empathy. He also taught lessons on bullying, friendship, and perseverance. His legend has lived on for 20 years and it will continue to do so.\u00a0 People will ask \u201cHarry Potter is still successful? After all this time?\u201d and there will be just one response: Always.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

June 26, 1997, exactly 20 years ago from today is the day that the wizard world and muggle world finally intermingled.\u00a0 Today marks the 20th anniversary of the first Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher\u2019s (Sorcerer\u2019s in the U.S.) Stone, being published. Despite how well known and loved the series is it\u2019s hard…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":615,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13,7],"tags":[1265,3433,3432,1838,1434,1886,3147],"class_list":["post-12517","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","category-entertainment","tag-harry-potter","tag-20th-anniversary","tag-anniversary","tag-book","tag-celebration","tag-j-k-rowling","tag-novel"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Boy Who Lived and Will Live On<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2017\/06\/boy-lived-will-live.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Boy Who Lived and Will Live On\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"June 26, 1997, exactly 20 years ago from today is the day that the wizard world and muggle world finally intermingled.\u00a0 Today marks the 20th anniversary of the first Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher\u2019s (Sorcerer\u2019s in the U.S.) Stone, being published. 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