Christmas (Harry-Potter Franchise)

Christmas is a primarily Christian holiday celebrated on 25 December in most countries (including Great Britain). The holiday ostensibly celebrates the birth of the Christian saviour, Jesus of Nazareth, though many people who follow other religions or who possess a secular disposition nevertheless celebrate the holiday. The most famous tradition of Christmas is that Father Christmas flies around the world on a reindeer-pulled sleigh to deliver presents to all the good children of the world.
Students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry went on a few weeks' holidays for the Christmas season — though some students (such as Harry Potter), chose to stay at Hogwarts. Harry enjoyed staying at Hogwarts over Christmas, as the alternative was going back to the Dursleys. Christmas was often marked by a feast of some type. Eggnog was often served on or around Christmas-time.
==Christmas at Hogwarts==
For those who stayed at Hogwarts for the Christmas holidays, enchantment and extravagance awaited. Harry Potter had fond memories of spending Christmas at Hogwarts, since he never had any fun with the Dursleys. When he and Hermione visited Godric's Hollow in December 1997, the carols coming from the church reminded him of “Peeves bellowing rude versions of carols from inside suits of armour, of the Great Hall’s twelve Christmas trees, of Dumbledore wearing a bonnet he had won in a cracker, of Ron in a hand-knitted sweater”.
Professor McGonagall took a list of students who wished to stay for the Christmas holidays during the second week of December. Their presents were piled at the foot of their beds in their dormitories for them to find when they wake up on Christmas morning.
Twelve large decorated fir trees, mistletoe, and holly were among the decorations that Hagrid and the professors help put in the Great Hall for the Christmas holidays. Snow fell from the ceiling of the Great Hall, but unlike real snow this snow was dry and warm. Around the castle, suits of armour were also enchanted to sing carols.
The Christmas feast featured roast turkey, potatoes, chipolatas, peas, gravy, cranberry sauce, and "flaming Christmas puddings". The staff might also enjoy wine with their meal. Wizard Crackers exploded loudly and contained more impressive favours than their Muggle counterparts, such as proper hats and bonnets, live mice, and Wizard's Chess sets.
==History==
===1991===
Harry Potter and the Weasleys (Ron, Fred, George and Percy) were among the students to stay for the holidays in 1991. Among Harry's gifts that year was his father's Invisibility Cloak, given to him anonymously by Albus Dumbledore.
===1992===
In 1992, when Harry and Ron were spared from expulsion by Headmaster Dumbledore for using the Flying Ford Anglia to reach Hogwarts, Professor Snape's expression was described to be as though Christmas had been cancelled. December that year, Harry, Ron, and Hermione Granger stayed at Hogwarts so they could question Draco Malfoy to determine if he was the Heir of Slytherin by disguising themselves as Slytherins with Polyjuice Potion.
===1996===
In his sixth year, Harry spent Christmas at The Burrow with the Weasleys, Fleur Delacour, and Remus Lupin. Since Harry, Ron and Hermione did not return to Hogwarts for their seventh year (as they hunting Tom Riddle's Horcruxes instead), he and Hermione spent Christmas Eve in Godric's Hollow, while Ron spent Christmas with Bill and Fleur at Shell Cottage.
==Christmas holidays==
250px|thumb|left|Harry Potter choosing to spend his Christmas at Hogwarts in 1991
The students could choose to stay at Hogwarts Castle or return home for the holidays, which began shortly before Christmas Day and end sometime after New Year's Day. A professor generally went among the students making a list of those who wanted to stay for the winter holidays.
A notable occasion upon which a majority of students stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas was in 1994, when Hogwarts hosted the Triwizard Tournament and the Yule Ball held on Christmas Day. On Harry Potter's first Christmas at Hogwarts in 1991, it had been by far the best Christmas he had ever had.
==Christmas presents==
These are the presents that some people were known to have received:
Year 	Recipient 	Notes
1980s	Arthur Weasley 	A toaster from Bill, Charlie and Jacob's sibling
1980s	Charles Weasley	A Sugar Quill from Jacob's sibling
1980s	Charles Weasley	A Dungbomb from Bilton Bilmes
1980s	Molly Weasley 	Wool from Bill, Charlie and Jacob's sibling
1991 	Harry Potter 	An emerald green jumper and a box of homemade fudge from Mrs Weasley
1991 	Harry Potter 	A box of Chocolate Frogs from Hermione Granger
1991 	Harry Potter 	his father's Invisibility Cloak from Albus Dumbledore (anonymously)
1991 	Ron Weasley 	A maroon jumper from his mother
1991 	Ron Weasley 	A box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans from Hermione Granger
1991 	Fred Weasley 	A blue jumper with a yellow "F" on the front from his mother
1991 	George Weasley 	A blue jumper with a yellow "G" on the front from his mother
1991 	Percy Weasley 	A red jumper with a yellow "P" on the front from his mother
==See also==
*Christmas holidays
*25 December
*The Slug Club Christmas party
*The Yule Ball
*Christmas at Hogwarts
*Boxing Day
==Behind the scenes==
*In , it is on Christmas that Bellatrix Lestrange and Fenrir Greyback initiate the Burning of the Burrow. However, as this contradicts the turn of events in the book, where Harry Potter spent that time of the day being interrogated by Rufus Scrimgeour instead of pursuing Death Eaters, this cannot be considered canon.
*In the PS1 video game adaption of , the parcel containing the Cloak of Invisibility sent by Dumbledore is delivered by Hedwig to Harry on the Hogwarts attic. Peeves steals the parcel and forces Harry to a race across the various roof beams to see who is fastest. If Harry wins, Peeves will throw Harry's parcel back to him.
*In , during Jacob's sibling's research on what Weasley family might have liked on Christmas as a present, the student interviewed Professor Snape and he revealed that he liked a quiet snowfall on the Christmas Eve.
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==Notes and references==
Category:Christmas
Category:Days-In-December
Category:Religion