Coming of Age

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 136373

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Laura Lynn Walsh <lwalsh at a...> 
wrote:

Laura Walsh:   
> Why is it that wizards and witches come of age at 17, rather
> than at age 18, as muggles do?  It would seem that, since
> wizards and witches tend to live much longer than muggles,
> they wouldn't really need to come of age any sooner.  I know
> it makes the plotting easier - Harry will be able to be independent
> and responsible for himself, but I can't see a logical reason for
> it.

Geoff:
I agree that folk come of age in the UK and US at 18 but, in the case 
of the UK, that's a fairly recent move - before that, the age was 21. 
What are the ages of majority in other countries around the world?

Has JKR just put that in to (a) make the Wizarding world a bit 
different again to our world and (b) so that Harry can go off to carry 
out his mission while he is still in school?