#HarryPotter20: South Africa celebrates Philosopher’s Stone’s 20th birthday

#HarryPotter20

“Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much,” reads the first line of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, published exactly twenty years ago today.

The children’s novel, written by unknown author JK Rowling, was filled with magic and friendship and wonder, and quickly became an international success. As of 2015, the novels had sold more than 500 million copies worldwide. The eight films pulled in US$7.7-billion in total.

It’s no wonder people are celebrating — and South Africans are relishing the nostalgia.

Twitter has erupted in tweets about #HarryPotter20, which has been gifted its own glasses and lightning scar emoji, and locals have not sat this one out. As of 4.26pm, the hashtag was trending sixth in the nation. It was trending in first worldwide.

Many were shocked that it had in fact been twenty years.

But most just wanted to thank the series for what it gave to them.

It’s time for a reread.

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