In 2012, British Prime Minister (at the time) David Cameron declared International Harry Potter Day would be on May 2nd. Why May 2nd? If you’ve read the series, you may remember that this is no arbitrary date. May 2, 1998 was when the epic Battle of Hogwarts was fought. In declaring the day, he said… “We hope that children and adults alike will be reminded of Harry Potter’s strong and courageous character on this day.”
Truly, there are few series, books or movies, that make me feel the way that Harry Potter does. This gardener is a huge fan–who had a Harry Potter themed bridal shower, bachelorette, and baby announcement– admits it has found its way into the very fabric of my life. There are fantastic lessons taught in Harry Potter that should be instilled in our children: perseverance, acceptance, friendship, love, female empowerment, and standing up for what is right and for those who cannot stand up for themselves. So how can you celebrate International Harry Potter Day?
Go get sorted into your house!
Do you know what house you’re in?? Maybe you want confirmation of what you believe your house is. Head on over to the Wizarding World to be sorted by the Sorting Hat! Click here and come back and tell us where your loyalty lies! Are you a Gryffindor like Harry, Hermione, and Ron? Slytherin like Draco and Snape? Hufflepuff like Cedric and Tonks? Or Ravenclaw like Luna and Moaning Myrtle?
Rewatch all the movies.
Spend a few days rewatching all the Harry Potter movies or, if you don’t have that amount of time (it’s hard, I know), rewatch your favorite one on International Harry Potter Day! If you don’t own all the movies, you can stream them for free on HBOMax or Peacock (with ads). Which one is your favorite?
Start reading the books to or with your kids.
Are your children old enough to be brought into the magical world of Harry Potter? Then, I highly recommend reading the books to them or getting them their own copies to read. My parents, and particularly my grandfather, fed my love for Harry Potter by getting me the books as soon as they were released (I’m showing my age here). Some of my fondest memories include devouring the books at night or in the summer during family trips. If reading to your kids, make it a family event, do the voices, set a few chapters to read each night, and hopefully watch their love grow. You can also get all the books for free over at your local Miami Dade Public Library! What better day to start reading Harry Potter than International Harry Potter Day?
Photo by: ylovesd photography
Go see Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore in theaters.
Released in April, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is the newest, and last, installation of the Fantastic Beasts trilogy, taking place before the Harry Potter books. Head on over to your local theater and watch the newest movie to experience some magical storytelling. Follow Newt Scamander and Dumbledore as they finish their magical journey and battle with Grindewald.
Create some Harry Potter Crafts!
Make some wands.
This craft requires three simple items. Wooden chopsticks, hot glue, and acrylic paint. That’s it!
Photo by: ylovesd photography
Just grab those chopsticks you may get from the deliveries or take out from local restaurants and split them into the two separate sticks. On the thicker base (the top) wrap a little bit of hot glue in a design you like. Get inspiration from the wands of Harry Potter characters or come up with your own, a little goes a long way. This part will be your grip. After you’ve let the glue dry, just grab some brown and black paint and paint the whole thing, including the glue. Different shades of brown make your chopsticks look like different types of wood colors. I made these as favors for my bridal shower, and 6 years later, my son plays with them daily. They’re cheap and easy to make again if they break! Practice your spellcasting and make sure to Expelliarmus your mates!
Potion bottles.
You can also make your own potion bottles easily and cheaply. Dollar Tree, Michaels, or thrift stores always have some cool bottles with stoppers. You can buy colored ones or plain clear ones. Then, add some water with food coloring or glitter and make your potions! You can also add a little vegetable glycerin or oil to change the viscosity of the water. Next, print some labels or paint directly on the bottle if you’re artsy enough. You can design your own labels or download the “Harry P” font from DaFont.com. If you have a Cricut machine or similar, you can print your own sticker labels from there! Make some Polyjuice Potion, Vertias Serum, Felix Felices, Elixir of Life, or Skele-Gro and show them off! Bonus, they serve as great Halloween décor too!
Photo by: ylovesd photography
Most importantly, have fun this International Harry Potter Day! Enjoy the story, the meaning, and the magical wizarding world that was created by J.K. Rowling that has touched so many lives. If you’re lucky, head on over to Universal Studios and visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Are you a Potterhead? Tell me what will be the first thing you do on this magical day??
Love it! Let’s celebrate Harry Potter’s Day! Wonderful tips and fun article, Ana-Sofia.
“Harry Potter: Working hard is important, but there’s something that matters even more. Believing in yourself. Think of it this way: Every great wizard in history has started out as nothing more than we are now. Students. If they can do it, why not us?”
The best quotes!!!! Thank you!!! <3
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