Best Christmas Moments In Harry Potter

Summary

• Harry Potter films are filled with festive scenes perfect for holiday viewing.
• Memorable Christmas moments include Polyjuice Potion mishaps in the Chamber of Secrets and the Yule Ball during the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
• Heartwarming scenes with family, gift exchanges, and bittersweet memories are highlights.

Buckle up! Blankets, hot chocolate, and a little bit of mischief, Christmas is coming! Nothing feels more Christmas-y than re-watching the entire Harry Potter saga. Although not necessarily a saga about Christmas, it has become a staple in so many households to watch the golden trio’s attempt at defeating the Dark Lord when the weather gets chilly.

The ambiance and atmosphere of the franchise are perfect for indulging in during the holiday season. This is especially true because almost every film features a distinctly festive scene or two, with the obvious exception of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, which focuses on the battle of Hogwarts that ends the series. This list takes a look at the most beloved festive scenes in the Harry Potter series.

Updated on December 24, 2024, by Stephanie Harris: As the holidays approach, surely lots of people are gearing up to rewatch the Harry Potter saga again, or at least reminiscing about its most nostalgic, festive scenes filled with warmth and magic. With a new Harry Potter series in the works at HBO, creating intrigue about casting and how writers might reimagine the beloved series, looking back on the movies that defined the early 2000s can put us all in a cheerful mood.

9

Christmas As Crabbe And Goyle

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

The Chamber of Secrets offers one of the very few Harry Potter Christmases where no one dies, and the golden trio spends their holiday taking Polyjuice Potions to turn into 2 Slytherin boys, Crabbe and Goyle, to dig for information about the heir of Slytherin from Draco Malfoy. This Christmas is a funny and light-hearted one, although the danger the trio is about to face is getting closer, with tension amping up over the Chamber of Secrets as victims start to be taken, one by one.

This is also quite a stressful Christmas for Harry, who is desperate to find the true heir of Slytherin to clear his name. His ability to speak Parseltongue had drawn suspicions from people around him. Although the transformation did not end fruitfully for the trio, this Christmas remains a fun and lighthearted episode in the series.

8

Christmas In Godric’s Hollow

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

The Last Christmas before the Second Wizarding War is a bittersweet moment for Harry. On his and Hermione’s journey to learn more information about the Deathly Hallows from Bathilda Bagshot, they visit Godric’s Hollow, where both Harry’s parents met their untimely end. They stand by Lily and James Potter’s graves, paying respect to two heroic figures that he misses dearly.

This poignant moment also motivates Harry to gather his courage to defeat the Dark Lord, continuing what his parents had done when they were still alive. Unfortunately, this deeply touching moment is cut short after Nagini, disguised as Bathilda Bagshot, attacks them in her house just moments later.

7

Harry And Cho Kiss Under The Mistletoe

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix

One of the most festive moments in an otherwise action-packed and drama-heavy iteration in the Harry Potter series, the kiss between Harry and Cho occurs after a meeting of Dumbledore’s Army in the Room of Requirement.

This moment is bittersweet, with Cho reflecting on her ex-boyfriend Cedric Diggory, who was killed by Voldemort at the end of the prior film, Goblet of Fire. It cannot be denied, however, that there is something cute about the scene, particularly the Room of Requirement providing the mistletoe at the perfect moment, encouraging the kiss.

6

Christmas And The Marauders Map

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Christmas during the Prisoner of Azkaban begins on a morose note, with Harry unable to join his friends in Hogsmeade Village. Fortunately for Harry, Fred and George take pity on him and give him The Marauders Map, which will soon be one of the most important things he owns, and a very revealing item in terms of plot too.

The magical map works similarly to a digital location sharer. However, it is more powerful as it can show everyone’s location, including characters who perhaps shouldn’t show up, like Peter Pettigrew, who is presumed dead at this point in the story. With Sirius Black on the run from Azkaban, developments from the Mauraders Map seem to create more questions than they answer, but that becomes part of the fun of the unfolding mystery in this film.

5

Christmas At The Burrow

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince

Harry’s Christmas at the Burrow is poignant for a number of reasons. It highlights his burgeoning relationship with Ginny Weasley, as well as being his last normal Christmas before the beginning of the Second Wizarding War.

The scene shows all the traditional coziness of a Weasley Christmas, before quickly transitioning into Remus and Tonks talking with Harry about the plot against Dumbledore. Harry and Ginny share a moment on the sofa before Ron comes in and disturbs them. When they finally have a moment alone later, the Burrow is attacked by Death Eaters, including a terrifying encounter with the werewolf Fenrir Greyback.

4

Slughorn’s Christmas Party

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Slughorn’s Christmas party shows how the potion master and professor always had favorites, recruiting them to his Slug Club. The Club, which Harry is invited to join after suspiciously improving in Potions class, consists of students Slughorn deems worthy and brilliant. Current club members include Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley, and we learn that Tom Riddle was once a member of the club too, back in his student days.

Not necessarily a fan favorite, Slughorn’s Christmas party is nonetheless an interesting turn of events. It illustrates the complicated relationships between Harry and Ginny, and Ron and Hermione, which continue to unfold throughout the year, and finalizes Harry’s suspicions that Draco and Snape are planning something terrible.

3

Christmas With The Weasleys

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Christmas in Grimmauld Place is one of the most heartwarming and wholesome festive scenes. It is particularly special as Arthur Weasley, who was recently attacked by Nagini, gets to celebrate another Christmas with his family and his loved ones, including Harry Potter, who saved his life. It is also poignant because Harry gets to spend the holiday season with his Godfather, Sirius Black, representing a real family connection for the first time.

Not only that, Hermione also joins the celebration, and the golden trio are able to share some peaceful moments in a trying and difficult time. Harry and Ron also receive their lovely winter jumpers from Molly Weasley, a tradition that started in their first year at Hogwarts.

2

Christmas And The Yule Ball

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The Yule Ball represents a turning point in the Golden Trio’s transition into adolescence. They dress up, dance with their dates, and begin to experience real teenage problems alongside their magical education. Audiences agree that this is one of the most stunning Christmas scenes, with truly unparalleled decorations all over Hogwarts Castle. This Christmas celebration comes alongside the excitement of the Tri-Wizard tournament, with students from other magical schools taking over Hogwarts for the year.

The Yule Ball is one of the first times audiences were able to see Hermione as a multifaceted character, going to the ball with popular Viktor Krum, one of the most prominent developments in the life of the beloved, studious girl. This scene also starts suspicions about Ron-Hermione’s romantic future, as well as Harry’s infatuation with Cho Chang.

1

The First Christmas At Hogwarts

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

This is the Christmas scene that cements Harry Potter as a festive movie franchise. The snow around Hogwarts’ grounds, the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the Hall, and the ambiance of the Christmas feast all make this part of the first film special and nostalgic, especially among younger generations.

This Christmas also marks Harry receiving a very meaningful gift: an invisibility cloak that was passed down through his family. This present is one that Harry wouldn’t have if he still lived with his wicked and vile relatives and a reminder of the love and magic of his father. Although there are some bittersweet moments where Harry’s heart is heavy, this Christmas marks the start of his journey towards defeating the Dark Lord with his two best friends.