Christmas-Holidays

> Harry had never in all his life had such a Christmas dinner. A hundred fat, roast turkeys; mountains of roast and boiled potatoes; platters of chipolatas; tureens of buttered peas, silver boats of thick, rich gravy and cranberry sauce — and stacks of wizard crackers every few feet along the table... Harry pulled a wizard cracker with Fred and it didn't just bang, it went off with a blast like a cannon and engulfed them all in a cloud of blue smoke, while from the inside exploded a rear admiral's hat and several live, white mice.
>
> Description of the Christmas feast, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

The **Christmas holidays** were the time of the year when students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had the option to go home via the Hogwarts Express for Christmas, or to stay in the castle. However, if one stayed, there were no classes for them to attend. The holidays were generally two weeks long.

## Event Known Information

### Date

From before Christmas Eve to after New Year's Day

## Celebrations at Hogwarts

   At this time, the school was decorated and the Great Hall was occupied with ***The Twelve Christmas Trees***. On Christmas Day there was the feast, during which the remaining students and teachers tucked into mountains of roast turkeys, potatoes and chipolatas. The tables in the Great Hall were strewn with ***Wizard Crackers***, wonderful crackers that sounded like gunshots when pulled and were filled with real sized hats, wizard chess sets, live mice and jokes.

## History

### 1991

> After a meal of turkey sandwiches, crumpets, trifle, and Christmas cake, everyone felt too full and sleepy to do much before bed except sit and watch Percy chase Fred and George all over Gryffindor tower because they'd stolen his prefect badge.
>
> Description of Harry Potter and the Weasley boys' Christmas in 1991, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

   Harry Potter chose to spend the Christmas holidays during his first year at Hogwarts, having no desire to spend the holiday period with the ***Dursleys***. His friend Ron Weasley stayed with him, while Hermione Granger headed home to see her parents. The two boys investigated the Philosopher's Stone over the break.
Ron's older brothers Percy, Fred, and George also remained at Hogwarts. The twins got into trouble for throwing snowballs at Professor Quirrell and pestered Percy by stealing his Prefect badge. All five boys received jumpers made by Mrs Weasley.

    For Christmas, Harry received his late father's Cloak of Invisibility from Albus Dumbledore. While exploring the school under it, he discovered the Mirror of Erised, and took to gazing in it frequently, as it showed him with the family he never knew. On one occasion, Ron accompanied him, and saw a vision of himself as Head Boy and Quidditch Captain. Dumbledore advised Harry to stop, warning him that people had gone mad by living in dreams, and moved the Mirror.

### 1992

**Hermione Granger**: "*There might be a way. Of course, it would be difficult. And dangerous, very dangerous. We'd be breaking about fifty school rules, I expect… What we'd need to do is to get inside the Slytherin common room and ask Malfoy a few questions without him realising it's us.*"
Harry Potter
**But that's impossible.**: "*No, it's not. All we'd need would be some Polyjuice Potion...*"
— Hermione and Harry planning to use Polyjuice Potion over the holidays with Ron Weasley[src]
    Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger all stayed at Hogwarts during the 1992 Christmas holidays in their second year. Hermione finished brewing ***Polyjuice Potion*** on Christmas Day, which the trio was planning to use to disguise themselves as Slytherin students so as to find out if Draco Malfoy was the Heir of Slytherin, and if he was opening the Chamber of Secrets.

    Harry and Ron transformed into ***Gregory Goyle*** and ***Vincent Crabbe***, respectively, while Hermione intended to transform into ***Millicent Bulstrode***. However, she inadvertently added a hair sample from ***Bulstrode's cat***, resulting in her partially transforming into a cat. As the potion wasn't intended for Trans-Species Transformation, she spent the rest of the holidays in the Hospital Wing to return to normal.
Harry and Ron questioned Draco, who revealed that he was not the Heir, but wished he knew who it was so that he could help him.

## Appearances

* *Harry-Potter and-the Sorcerer's S Stone* (film) (First Entire Appearance)
* *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (film)

## Notes and references

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 *Harry-Potter and-the Sorcerer's S Stone* (film), Chapter 12
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (film), Chapter 12