Today is April Fool’s Day, and, fittingly, it’s also the Weasley twins’ birthday. Here’s why we should all embrace our inner Fred and George right now.
Harry Potter gave readers a wealth of characters to fall in love with over the course of its seven books and eight films, but Fred and George Weasley are easily two of the most compelling. Born on April 1, it’s probably unsurprising that Ron’s older twin brothers turned out to be such pranksters, but there’s a certain charm to their actions throughout the series.
Although Fred and George appear to be comedic relief at on the surface, it quickly becomes clear that there’s more to the Weasley twins than first meets the eye. From their entrepreneurial spirit to their insistence on staying positive, even during the darkest moments of the war against Voldemort, the two embody qualities that many of us would do well do embrace during the difficult times we’re currently experiencing.
Finding a reason to laugh isn’t easy these days, especially if you’ve been following the news and the increasing cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Things can feel hopeless, but if there’s anything we’ve learned from the Weasley twins — and from Harry Potter in general — it’s to never stop looking for the bright spots in life. Laughter can be its own medicine against the darkness, and it’s possible to understand the severity of the situation and still embrace whatever humor comes your way.
And it’s not just Fred and George’s humor we could use during these trying times. Their compassion — which is aimed at basically every character except Ron (sorry, Ron!) — is another quality we’d all do well to exhibit now. It’s too easy to fall into an individualistic mentality, but remembering to help the people around us, check in on our loved ones, and speak up against injustice is more important than ever.
That entrepreneurial spirit we mentioned can also be a Fred and George-ism to embrace while staying indoors, if you’re feeling up to it anyway. While there’s certainly no requirement to be hyperproductive in the midst of all the uncertainty, staying in more does provide the time to work on passion projects — and honestly, we could all use the distraction of locking ourselves in our bedroom and working on new creations.
However you decide to honor Fred and George on their birthday, just make sure you get a laugh out of it. After all, the twins wouldn’t settle for anything less.
What’s your favorite Fred and George moment from Harry Potter? Share it with us in the comments below!