Christmas

Christmas decorations at Hogwarts

Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of the Saviour, Jesus Christ. A famous tradition is that Father Christmas flies around the world on a sleigh pulled by reindeers to deliver presents to good children.

Christmas is celebrated at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry every year, Hogwarts Castle is decorated, and tnere is also a school holiday where the students get a few weeks off. They can choose whether to go home to their families, or stay and attend a special feast on Christmas Day.

History

In the earlier half of the twentieth century, Professor Herbert Beery proposed a pantomime to celebrate the festivities. After choosing to adapt The Fountain of Fair Fortune, the stage was set and Beery directed the actor and actresses. However, the performance ended in disaster when the "Worm" exploded and smoke and dust filled the room. The actor of Sir Luckless broken up with the actress who played Amata and turned his attentions to the girl playing Asha which started a duel. The Head of Hogwarts, Armando Dippet put a blanket ban on any future pantomimes at Hogwarts.

Vernon Dursley told Harry Potter one summer that he would be in the Cupboard until Christmas if he ruined Dudley Dursley's eleventh birthday by using magic.

Harry and Ron opening their presents

In the middle of December, Harry signed up to stay at Hogwarts over the Christmas holidays. His friends, Ron, Fred and George Weasley also stayed because their parents were going abroad to visit their brother. Rubeus Hagrid decorated the Great Hall by putting twelve towering trees around the room sparkling with icicles or glittering with candles, and hung festoons of holly and mistletoe.

At the 422nd Quidditch World Cup, Harry bought Ron a pair of Omnioculars after he ran out of spending money. Ron was very touchy about people buying things for him, so Harry said the gift was in lieu of a Christmas present. After obtaining gold from leprechauns during Ireland's pre-game display, Ron gave Harry the money for the Omnioculars and told him he would now have to get a Christmas present.

Trivia

• Christmas at Hogwarts, featuring illustrations by Ziyi Gao, is a picture book that brings to life Harry Potter's first Christmas at Hogwarts. It was published in 2024.