The first book in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series was released on June 26, 1997. A roundup of the celebration surrounding the series’ 20th anniversary:
- Facebook has added a fun “easter egg” for anyone who includes the words “Harry Potter,” “Gryffindor,” “Slytherin,” “Ravenclaw,” or “Hufflepuff” in their posts, the Next Web reports.
- Google also got in on the fun, allowing fans to take a Google Earth tour of the locations that inspired Rowling and the producers of the Potter films, Variety reports.
- Huffington Post has a list of more small ways to celebrate the day, from making your own butterbeer to trying your hand at the New York Times‘ Potter-themed crossword puzzle.
- You can listen to the first story NPR ever aired about the Potter series here.
- The first book was released in the UK as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone; in the US, the title was changed to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The Huffington Post delves into the reasoning behind the switch.
- Variety looks at the best scenes and plotlines from the books that didn’t make it into the movies.
- Quartz has a list of the worst names from the series. (“The Fat Lady”? Really?)
- Entertainment Weekly rounds up the 10 most highlighted lines in the Kindle editions of the books.
- Even ESPN is getting in on the celebration; it has a list of the top five sporting moments from the series.
