Harry Potter Turns 30

I'm not sure there's ever been a literary character whose birthday was as well known as Harry Potter's.

He receives notice that he's a wizard, and will be attending Hogwart's, right around his 11th birthday on July 31. Each subsequent book starts at about the same time of year, just as he's about to escape the Dursleys' unwelcoming embrace. The books were sometimes released during the week of his birthday, and the movie franchise reinforced it further by opening that week as well.

Rowling has said that 1980 was the year of his birth, so today is the day the boy wizard enters what used to be considered middle age.

Happy birthday, Harry!