There’s no place like Hogwarts for the holidays.
A (very) young Mr. Potter discovers this midway through “The Sorcerer’s Stone.” As Harry plummets downstairs on Christmas morning, he spies Ron Weasley standing next to the towering tree that dominates the Gryffindor common room. He’s greeted with an adorably sincere “Happy Christmas, Harry.”
“Happy Christmas, Ron. What are you wearing?”
Ron’s wardrobe consists, of course, of pajamas and an infamous Weasley sweater. Ron mentions that a similar garment may be in store for Harry. Harry’s eyes widen incredulously.
“I’ve… I’ve got presents?”
To those well-versed in the imaginings of author J.K. Rowling, it’s obvious that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry represents the very best of the yuletide world. Twelve magnificent trees deck the great hall every year, festooned with everything from average baubles to fairy lights. Suits of armor spout carols of their own accord. At Christmas dinner, the tables are heaped high with delicious delicacies dished up by the house-elf kitchen staff. Wizard crackers make a lively centerpiece, exploding to reveal magical prizes. For at least one day of the year, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is only a distant fantasy.
In short, everything at Hogwarts is prime at Christmastime — Harry Potter makes sense with the holidays. The magic of the wizarding world mingles with the magic of the season to create a spirit magnified as it could never be for us poor, unfortunate Muggles.
Thanks to ABC Family’s endless parade of Potter movie marathons, we common folk can dream of spending Christmas at Hogwarts just as Harry does in his first, second, third and fourth years. Even when Harry, Ron and Hermione are far removed from Hogwarts, J.K. Rowling undeniably features Christmas in every one of her seven books.
Why? Because Christmas is wonderful. Harry Potter is wonderful. Combining the two creates a bottomless vortex of spectacular that some may find too powerful to endure without succumbing to tears of joy.
The holiday season taps one’s inner child just as Potter does. The “warm fuzzies” generated through marrying the two are plentiful and palpable enough for ABC Family to take notice.
Christmas at Hogwarts triggers a sense of longing in wizard and Muggle alike. We all hold yuletide fantasies in our mind’s eye: The tree should be tall and gleaming, snow should carpet the ground and Christmas dinner ought to be a heaven-sent feast. At Hogwarts castle, these fantasies are the norm. Feeling wistful, even all-out jealous, is unavoidable.
Naturally, we put ourselves as close to Hogwarts as possible at Christmas. Noses pressed up against television screens, we imagine how perfect the holidays would be if only we could shop for gifts in Hogsmeade, knock back a warm butterbeer or attend the Yule Ball. Sigh.
Although we can’t magically appear in the wizarding world (no one can apparate within the castle grounds, of course), it’s perfectly acceptable to borrow a bit of Hogwarts magic for the season. Simply pop in a DVD during the holidays to witness the heart-warming effects of Potter, plus Christmas, firsthand.
