Christmas (Harry Potter)

> Christmas was coming. One morning in mid-December, Hogwarts woke to find itself covered in several feet of snow. The lake froze solid and the Weasley twins were punished for bewitching several snowballs so that they followed Quirrell around, bouncing off the back of his turban. The few owls that managed to battle their way through the stormy sky to deliver mail had to be nursed back to health by Hagrid before they could fly off again.
>
> Wintertime at Hogwarts, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

 File:Christmas at the Wizarding World.gif
**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

> 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

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.

 File:Christmas feast at Hogwarts.jpg
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

> The Great Hall looked magnificent. Not only were there a dozen frost covered Christmas trees and thick streamers of holly and mistletoe crisscrossing the ceiling, but enchanted snow was falling, warm and dry, from the ceiling. Dumbledore led them in a few of his favourite carols, Hagrid booming more and more loudly with every goblet of eggnog he consumed. Percy, who hadn't noticed that Fred had bewitched his prefect badge so that it now read 'Pinhead', kept asking them all what they were sniggering at.
>
> Christmas at Hogwarts in 1992, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

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

 File:Christmas in the Great Hall 1991.jpeg
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***.

## Christmas holidays

Main article: Christmas holidays

> It was true that Harry wasn't going back to Privet Drive for Christmas. Professor McGonagall had come around the week before, making a list of students who would be staying for the holidays, and Harry had signed up at once.
>
> Students have the option of staying at Hogwarts for Christmas holidays, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

 File:Harry Potter alone at the fireplace (Christmas 1991).JPG
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. On Harry Potter's first Christmas at Hogwarts in 1991, it had been by far the best Christmas he had ever had.

## Christmas presents

Template:Dialogue a-bThese are the presents that some people were known to have received:

## See also

* Christmas holidays
* 25 December
* The Slug Club Christmas party
* The Yule Ball
* Christmas at Hogwarts
* Boxing Day

## Behind the scenes

* In Template:HBP, 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 Template:PS, 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.

> I have always enjoyed a quiet Christmas Eve with a nice snowfall- the only time I enjoy snow is on Christmas
>
> Snape on what he enjoys on Christmas, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

* In Template:HM, 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.

## Appearances

* Template:PS Template:1st
* Template:COS
* Template:POA
* Template:GOF
* Template:OOTP
* Template:HBP
* Template:DH
* Template:DH
* Template:FB
* Template:FB
* Template:TBB Template:Mention
* Template:PM
* Template:WW
* Template:HPV
* Template:HM
* Template:WU
* Template:PAS
* Template:MA
* Template:HL Template:Mention

## Notes and references

Template:Reflist

1. ↑ Template:Wikilink
2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 Template:PS
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Template:COS