In Harry Potter, what does Christmas mean to the wizards?

I don’t know what the official answer is, but I always thought that because Christmas is widely celebrated in the UK, and that’s where the story takes place, that’s why they celebrate Christmas.

This isn’t an official answer or anything.
Christmas isn’t really about Jesus anymore. It’s about having a season of peace and good will towards men, which most people of all religions are interested in. I know many who aren’t Christian but still celebrate Christmas – and it isn’t about the presents for them (not that it hurts).
Years ago, my 6 year old neighbor was in class, and the teacher asked all 27 students what Christmas was about. My neighbor was the only one who replied “The birth of Jesus” – all the others replied with something else (though only a couple responded with “gifts!”)

Very probably they’re celebrating the secularized Christmas, the “true meaning” of which is giving and family and togetherness. Or something.

@papayalily Christmas on the public scale isn’t about Jesus, as the nations are being driven towards secularism. There are still those who hold Him at the center of the holiday.

@Nullo There’s more than just those who still hold the birth of Jesus as the center of the holiday and government. Those are only two pieces of the Christmas puzzle.

But why celebrate a secular Christmas? Everyone else celebrated a religious Christmas first, and the importance of Jesus faded away over time, yet the holiday remained.

Probably closer to the original reason for the season, Yuletide Celebration.

@iphigeneia—sorry, that is wrong – the Christians took over the original Yule Celebration to celebrate a fake birthday, even though Jesus was actually born in the spring, during the tax collection of the Romans.

In JK Rowling’s interview with Oprah in August she said that there are reccuring Christian themes throughout the books, such as Christmas. She said this was because of her background in this religion but it is not meant to push these beliefs on the reader. I’m a Harry Potter nerd to the max :)

@iphigeneia Because it’s fun. It’s fun to bake the cookies and cakes and to put out decorations and to call up people you kinda hate and catch up with them and to smell the trees and the wreaths (my favorite part). We like fun.

@YARNLADY Sorry, let me clarify: since Christmas has been Christmas (no matter that it was really Yule with a different cover story), it has been Christian (and really, when it was Yule it was still religious). I could believe that they celebrate Yule, but why call it Christmas?

@tigerlilly2 So Rowling has mentioned Christmas in interviews… Right, so we know her intent for including it in her stories, I just wonder if she’s thought about its reasons for existing in the reasonably isolated wizarding community, as something other than simply the author’s wishes.

@papayalily But I don’t want fun! I want to find potential plotholes and ambiguities and nitpick until either I have an answer or everything is in shambles.~

@iphigeneia Just remember, it’s not the most perfect world. She gives no explanation for why they write with quills and ink on scrolls instead of the much more practical paper and pen (neither is affected by the whole electricity/magic thing…). Presumably she just felt that it helped to distinguish the magic world as different from the Muggle world. And she probably called it Christmas instead of Yule because there really aren’t a whole lot of 11 year olds familiar with that part of history.

I think it’s more of a secular thing for them. They just enjoy the decorations and the merriment and the sweet treats. Who can blame them? I for one would love to see Severus Snape wearing a Santa hat and a red cape. I’d sit on his lap anytime ; – )

My pick is #3 because in the 4th book there is a Yule Ball and dance thing.. but thats just the opinion of a HP nerd.. I could be wrong.

@papayalily It might be the lateness of the hour, but your post doesn’t seem to make sense. Could you rephrase it?

@Nullo So, there are those who celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus – or, as you put it, those who hold Him at the center of the holiday. And then you have nations moving towards secularism – the government aspect. But then you also have tons of people who aren’t in either of those groups who still celebrate Christmas in their own way. It’s not just government secularism vs Jesus at the center.

@papayalily Thank you.
I wasn’t referring to government, though; I was thinking of the general trend towards secularism among the citizens of the United States and, apparently, much of the rest of the Western world. Even those of other religions who celebrate Christmas would be celebrating in a more secular fashion.

It’s not really Christmas without Christ, you see. Maybe they can call it Bonhomiesmas?

Consumerism and religion was completely left out of their Christmas parties over at Hogwart’s, leaving room for gluttony, merrymaking and necessities disguised as gifts.
My guess is that the author wanted to use the more ’‘homely’’ and familiar aspects of Christmas for something fun, without including anything really serious besides forwarding the plot which, ultimately, obviously has nothing to do with Christmas.