So many of us grew up waiting for our letter from Hogwarts. From saying ‘Alohomora’ before pushing open doors, to waving a stick around, pretending it’s a wand, many of us have lived double lives, the real one and the one in which we wait for a letter from Hogwarts.
And now, a study has found that for many this is a matter of real anxiety, the wait for your letter, and actually not receiving one. It has been coined as ‘Benkinersophobia’.
The letter from Hogwarts is supposed to be the first contact with the magical world. When a child is 11, he or she will receive an invite, delivered by an owl, inviting the person to join Hogwarts. But you will get one only if you are a real witch or wizard. But there is no place like Hogwarts. It is a fictional place, created in the magical world in books by J K Rowling.
Image Credit: Movie – Harry Potter
But the books have managed to create a global narrative. There are universities which offer courses on Harry Potter. It is even possible to get a doctorate on the subject. And it has created a whole new universe of readers, who strongly believe in the magical created by the writer.
Studies show that some children who are die-hard fans of the series develop immense anxiety before their eleventh birthday since they are hoping and waiting for their letter to come. For a child who truly believes in the world J. K. Rowling created, if they do not receive their letter, the child may fall into the depths of despair until they realize what is real and what is not.
Another study has found that being a Harry Potter fan can make you a nicer person. ‘The Greatest Magic of Harry Potter: Reducing Prejudice’ was published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology. It says that reading Harry Potter books makes you less prejudiced, happier, kinder and more positive towards life.
So, while you can get lost in the pages of the book, or plan a Harry Potter movie marathon, you should not wait for a letter. You will have to create your own magic.
