Harry Potter's birthday is coming soon.

[Geoff]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "krules" <kempermentor at ...> wrote:

Geoff:
> > > Canon gives enough information to know that his birthday is, as
> > > you suggest, 31st July, and that his year of birth is 1980, hence
> > > he is 32 this year.

Corey:
> > Oh okay, that's cool.  Wonder if he has to catch any dark wizards?  
> > What does canon mean?

Kemper:
> Canon is a list sacred text that people base their truth/faith.  In this case, in this case canon refers to the 7 HP books and the 2 companion books.  HP canon is NOT the movies.

<text snipped>

Geoff:
Just to follow that excellent description from Kemper, here is what I 
mean about canon giving information:

'...Harry picked up a piece of paper that was lying on the table under 
the tea cosy. It was a cutting from the Daily Prophet:

GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST
Investigations continue into thr break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, 
widely believed to be the work of dark wizards or witches unknown.

<a few lines snipped>

Harry remembered Ron telling him on the train that someone had 
tried to rob Gringotts, but Ron hadn't mentioned the date.

"Hagrid!" said Harry. "That Gringotts break-in happened on my 
birthday! It might've been happening while we were there!"'

(PS "The Potions Master" p.105 UK edition)

That gives direct information about Harry's birthday. Now the year 
of his birth needs a little analysis of careful reading of canon:

'"Well, this Hallowe'en will be my five hundredth deathday." said 
Nearly Headless Nick, drawing himself up and looking dignified.'

(CoS "The Deathday Party" p.99 UK edition)

'...an enormous grey cake in the shape of a tombstone, with 
tar-like icing forming the words.

Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington
died 31st October 1492'

(Same chapter p.102)

So that sets the date as 31st October 1992.  Harry is now in the 
Second Year at Hogwarts in his autumn term. Hogwarts uses one of
the systems for transferring to senior school where the pupil goes into
the First Year in the year in which they reach eleven (known as 11+).
So Harry , having been at Hogwarts for a year is 12 and in the Second 
Year in 1992. Therefore he entered Hogwarts as an eleven year old in 
1991. so his year (and date) of birth was 31/07/1980.