A week or so ago I was reading an article about the Gibson closing, and the new plans for the space. Maybe you’ve heard. After the success of the theme park in Orlando, Florida, the magical world of Harry Potter is scheduled to come California. The new location at Universal will break ground after the final show at the Gibson this September. Japan is also scheduled to receive their very own Hogwarts.
Harry Potter has always held a special place in my heart, ever since I read the very first book. I am not alone. It became a worldwide sensation. In fact, it changed the world! Curious how?
It provided us a plethora of new fantastical creatures to ogle. There are so many they have their own mini wiki.
Every fan was provided with a cool list of spells.
Ruel S. De Vera gives us five ways Harry Potter changed the world that are hard to disagree with. You won’t regret the read.
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I’ve pulled out one of my favorite creatures to highlight this #ImmortalMonday. I know, it’s hard to pick just one when we delve into Harry’s magical world, but I think many of you would agree, there was something extra special about Fawkes the Phoenix. Any phoenix tends to have a purple-red hue and thus the bird was known as “the purple one” or “the royal bird.”
In Greek mythology, the bird was believed to be a long-lived fowl that was reborn from the ashes of its predecessor’s death. Who’s to say it’s not the same bird living life after life? Some think the phoenix found its origin in Ancient Egypt as the benu, a solar bird. It is still debatable and sources regarding the benu can often be problematic. The phoenix has come to symbolize many things with its renewing quality: the sun, time, life, resurrection, and Early Christianity to name a few.
In the Harry Potter Series we connect Harry with the rebirthed phoenix, seeing the boy as the new soul, connecting them. Fawkes is called to Harry in his time of need in the Chamber of Secrets due to Harry’s loyalty to the wizard Dumbledore, symbolizing the healing Spirit. Fawkes will help Harry through each stage in the final battle. He’ll provide Harry with the sword of Gryffindor so that the basilisk may be defeated.
When Harry is wounded, Hawkes will heal him with his tears, saving his life, and finally he will fly them all out to safety using the strength of is tail feathers. He gives Harry hope. If ever there was a symbol of immortality I would say this bird qualifies. The phoenix is a beautiful, indestructible example of a continuous life cycle.
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J.K. Rowling created such a rich world for us to play with. So many wonderful characters and lines. What are some of your favorites? Here are three of mine:
“It is not our abilities that show what we truly are. It is our choices.” Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live…” Albus Dumbledore. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
“Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself.” Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
If you were to pay the magical school a visit, where would you want to stop first? Would it be Dumbledore’s office? Perhaps Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes is at the top of your list or Diagon Alley. Would a day be long enough to fulfill all your Hogwarts desires?
I would need much longer than a day at Hogwarts! There are too many rooms to discover, too many secret passages to scamper through.
Fawkes was always one of my favorite characters in the books. He wasn’t an obvious hero, but nonetheless, he was loyal and true to Harry, which made him a hero in my eyes.
As for Universal building a Hogwarts out here all I can say is, Butterbeer! Seriously, I’d be driving up there at least once a month to get some. It’s that good. 🙂
Seriously, lots of time. I’m still trying to get Gamer interested in reading the books. You and I will HAVE to make a trip together for a serious mug of butterbeer.
I must be one of the very few who never got into Harry Potter. I tried reading the first book years ago and couldn’t finish it. Maybe I’ll give it another go.
It’s alright. Harry Potter doesn’t have to be for everyone. You can still enjoy a good roller coaster, unless they aren’t your thing. Could it be the Dark Fever series is more your speed?
I’ve always enjoyed Fawkes. Something about the phoenix and their ability to rise from the ashes always appealed to me…long before Harry. Fawkes just sealed the deal on a long time love affair. My husband gave me the treasure chest set of the books to possibly pass down to our children if we have any.
I feel the same way about Fawkes. He is an amazing creature – wondrous. I love the idea of the treasure chest set. I’ve been trying to get my son to start in on the set. He’s currently of the right age, but he keeps steering away from it to other things. Sigh. Who doesn’t want to read about becoming a wizard? LOL.
I love everything Dumbledore said about the Mirror of Erised! I remember sitting in the movie crying at one of those scenes. And my husband got to go to Harry Potter in Orlando for a work convention! He called me when he went to the gift shop and walked me through it over the phone! 🙂
What a sweet man you have there. Next time he’ll take you along. Dumbledore found a special place in my heart. That’s why it hurt doubly so when JK made it look like his intentions were different than we had thought through all the books. Knife to the heart. Great writing.
I stopped reading HP in book 5, and I’m not much of a shopper, but who wouldn’t like to cruise Diagon Alley? Also I’d like to sit in on some of those magic classes at Hogwarts!
There were some tough ones to get through. Not because we didn’t love the characters, but because the storyline was painful to follow. I struggled with two books, myself. A few magic classes would be super fun! And Diagon Alley! Oh, yeah!
The phoenix is a very cool (ha!) creature–perfect for Immortal Monday.
We went to Orlando last summer and went to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. They did a fantastic job recreating everything. My only complaint: They did not allow for the gigantor, Hagrid-sized crowds. Hold on the your loved ones, put leashes on the little ones, use GPS tracking devices. The main courtyard was a sea of people. Shoulder to shoulder people (you can imagine what I was like by the time I got out of there). Having said all that, I loved it. The main ride was worth the 2-hour wait (NOT kidding). I’ve heard they are adding onto the Florida park. I hope they take what they learn and apply it to the California park.
I would imagine they have studied the crowds and are making adjustments for future parks. The only problem, California and Japan have less available land then Florida, so it will be interesting to see what we end up with.
Ooooh…great post! I would head up to the owlery, for sure. Then I’d sneak out to the Forbidden Forest with a keg of butter beer. Join me for a hike, Tameri? You know… to “exercise”?
Sneak out to the Forbidden Forest with a keg? I hear the teenager in you talking. LOL. Too funny. I love it. I bet the view from the owlery would be something.
I think I’d need more than a day. I think I’d need to be 11 again and go through it all. She created such a wonderful world that was easy to relate to. She had marvelous names and wonderful places, room, corridors, staircases – everything was full of imagination. I read all the books with my daughter and we’ve worn the movies out.
But among the fun and escapism, Rowling has her characters say some of the greatest things; things that are meant to speak to out own lives just as much as to the characters themselves. She was sneaky like that, hiding great morals and rules to live by in a fantasy world.
So, back to the question. I’d need seven years (and at least a cloak of invisibility 🙂
Cheers!
Seven years? Wow! You plan to get immensely serious about every detail. I LOVE it! You’re right, her stories and characters are richly layered. We can all learn a great deal from them. Can you imagine your first accomplishment being such a huge success. The chances of you writing anything close to it again would be very rare. Would you even want to try? Thanks for your great comment, Nigel. Cheers!
My first stop would be the room of requirement! Everything I’d need would be there. Somehow I always expected Harry to get his own Phoenix, but he never did. Still, to this day, can’t believe what happened to Hedwig. 🙁
Poor Hedwig. I, too, have trouble with that one. I loved that sweet owl. It breaks my heart. The room of requirement was one of the places I was thinking of when I put the question out there. Sounds like we would be hanging out together. 😀
I would love to go to Diagon Alley, of course. But I’d also like to go up the staircase and then have them change in mid-air!! That would be so cool, as long as I was on the right step. We are taking our kids to Disney World in January and I’m trying to squeeze in a day at Universal for the Harry Potter experience!
You will have so much fun. We took our son to Disney World several years ago in December. Everything was decorated for Christmas – it was magical. Our names and pictures are all on a plaque at the entrance of Epcot. We need to go back and add my daughter now that she’s older. I think if you are that far out you need to make time for the Harry Potter experience. Just Saying. That you can post lots of pictures and share with us. 😀
just watched both “sorcerer’s stone” and “chamber of secrets” today. my favorite will always be “prisoner of azkaban,” even if i don’t spell it correctly.
When you look at those first few films it’s so strange to see the kids so young, now that they’re so much older. When the Deathly Hallows was playing on Direct TV, I believe it was a constant on our television. My daughter even dressed the part this last Halloween. Rowling really captured a lot of hearts, didn’t she?
save the tickets. i’m an idiot. actually, it’s possible my kids saved them. one kid is so addicted she’s attempting to read all seven books 100 times each. i tried to tell her that there are about 693 other books she might miss out on, but oh well. beats tattooing her face. not that there’s anything, well, maybe.
and – if you want to be jealous – i saw the final film at the movie theater in universal orlando at midnight. after the film they let everyone back into the harry potter area. also, seriously, i started crying at the very end because there was this whole organized thing that when it said “the end” on the screen, everyone was to yell “mischief managed!” and i still tear up just thinking about it.
That is totally AWESOME! I am seriously jealous. Why wasn’t I invited? I probably would have cried, too. Did you save that ticket? I would have. I’m funny like that. Thanks for sharing. Very cool.