Harry Potter: Fans celebrate wizard's birthday

 J.K. Rowling gave the well-known wizard the date of birth as July 31, 1980.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first book in the series, was published 26 years ago.

Blair, the 5-year-old daughter of Crystal from Essex, has inherited her mother's passion of all things Potter from her own youth.

The stories and characters will "live on for hundreds of years in the same way as Shakespeare's work has," according to Kent-based fan Danny Dawkins.

For her five-year-old daughter, Crystal has decorated a Harry Potter bedroom. The two will spend July 31 "playing Harry Potter and dressing up."

Blair is allowing Crystal to revisit her childhood memories, which she found to be really pleasant.

She published a request for wizard-related items on Facebook.

We received gifts such as a sorting hat, a platform nine and three-quarters lamp, teddies of Harry and Hermione, and a pillow and blanket from Hogwarts, according to Crystal.

Since he was about seven years old, Mr. Dawkins has been a fan. He described his first reading of one of the series' novels as a "magical experience."

He has "hundreds" of Harry Potter-related objects in his collection, including Lego, figurines, wands, and novels.

The first time he remembered Harry Potter was for his eighth birthday, when he received several figurines and became completely fixated on them.That prompted me to begin collecting the several pieces I currently own.

In reference to Harry Potter's birthday, he declared that a Harry Potter movie marathon is in the works.

I'll simply kick back and watch the Harry Potter movies, purchase some Potter-themed food, and maybe create some butterbeer, he said.