Birthdays and calendars

[prefectmarcus at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 23544

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Michelle Apostolides" 
<michelleapostolides at l...> wrote:
> > If the cutoff date is Sept 30, it would still work.  Harry and
> > Hermione would still go to school in the same calendar year.  They
> > would still both be thirteen at the end of PoA term.
> >
> > Remember, there is nothing sacred about Sept 1 or Jan 1 for that
> > matter.  I, myself, grew up where the cutoff date was Oct 31.  I 
was
> > painfully aware of it since my birthday is Oct 27.
> >
> The Uk school system is pretty rigid. The admission date rune 1st
> September to 31st August. I know because I knew of people who had
> trouble when they changed schools. It's highly probable that this is 
the
> system that JKR had in mind because this is the system that she has
> experience of both as a pupil and a teacher.
> 
> Michelle

You are, of course, correct.  However, I doubt Hogwarts comes under 
the Muggle Ministry of Education, or whatever department controls that 
important segment of life.  Hogwarts is controlled by the MoM.  They 
might have some other reason for setting the date elsewhere.  

Hogwarts was founded before the Norman Conquest.  They might have set 
the date back then and haven't felt inclined to change it.

So, unless further light and knowledge is revealed to us, I think we 
can safely place the cutoff date between Hermione's and Angelina's  
birthday.  That would satisfy all canon concerns.

Possible dates:
*23 September - the autumn equinox.
*29 September - Michaelmas. Still used in UK Higher Education, or so 
my Jane Austen friends tell me.
*30 September - Last day of September.  The end of the Month.  Exactly 
one month after Term starts, the first of September.

Point: Do we know for certain that Angelina and the Twins are in the 
same year?  I am uncertain of that little detail.

Marcus