Blogmas Day 12: Christmas in the Wizarding World

Christmas is a magical time of year even as a mere muggle, but Christmas in the Wizarding World is really something to behold. 

We love Christmas in the Wizarding World because it is a whole vibe. 

You have the Great Hall dressed up head to toe in festive decorations,

The Hall looked spectacular. Festoons of holly and mistletoe hung all around the walls and no fewer than twelve towering Christmas trees stood around the room, some sparkling with tiny icicles, some glittering with hundreds of candles. -Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

You have the mere existence of Hogsmeade Village,

Source

Hogsmeade looked like a Christmas card; the little thatched cottages and shops were covered in a layer of crisp snow; there were holly wreaths on the doors and strings of enchanted candles hanging in the trees. 

-Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

You cannot think of Christmas in the Wizarding World without also thinking of the Yule Ball circa 1994 hosted by Hogwarts itself. 

Everlasting icicles had been attached to the banisters of the marble staircase; the usual twelve Christmas trees in the Great Hall were bedecked with everything from luminous holly berries to real, hooting, golden owls, and suits of armor had all been bewitched to sing carols whenever anyone passed them. -Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

And I would be remiss if I did not mention the blessing that is the iconic Christmas sweaters knitted by Mrs. Weasley. What would Christmas morning be without one?

But besides the festivities, the decorations, and the Christmas spirit, Christmas time in the Wizarding World is an important one, as some of the turning points in this story happen during the holiday season.

• In year 1 Harry is gifted an invisibility cloak on Christmas morning. It is gifted anonymously before we find out later, Dumbledore passed it onto him on behalf of his father James Potter, which we later find out is a crucial component to beating He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named

• In year 3 Harry receives his Firebolt - also gifted anonymously until we find out later it was in fact, given to him by Sirius Black - Godfather extraordinaire. 
• As mentioned, in year 4 Hogwarts hosts the Yule Ball on Christmas Night. It's significant not only because it's the first Tri-Wizard tournament in yearssssssss and Hogwarts is doing hosting duties right, but it's also the first time we get an inkling of something brewing between one Ronald Weasley and one Hermione Granger
• In year 7, while on their quest for Horcruxes and all out of leads, Harry and Hermione visit Godric's Hollow where Harry's parents are laid to rest. This is the first time Harry has visited his parents' grave sites. It is also this night Harry and Hermione notice the gravestone of Ignotus Peverell - a brother of the Peverell family, believed to have created the Deathly Hallows. This sets them on their course of discovering the Hallows. Harry and Hermione realize it's Christmas Eve as they are in the graveyard when they hear church bells chiming in the distance. 

"Harry, I think it's Christmas Eve," said Hermione. -Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

So put on a Harry Potter movie, pick up a book, or turn on Potter Waltz by Patrick Doyle and make your muggle Christmas more magical!