world Diagon Alley has been transformed into a Winter Wonderland. With ice skating, circus shows and live entertainment, it's great festive fun for children and adults alike.
The market has well over a hundred stalls, selling everything from ornaments to roasted chestnuts. This year, there is a collection of ice sculptures that you can visit, modelled on a quaint Victorian street. The temperature here is around -10c so it's advised to wrap up warm. There is also an opportunity to learn how to make an ice sculpture from the experts.
Aside from the stalls, there is also a large funfair. There is an ice rink and rides such as helter-skelters, waltzers, a ferris wheel and even a rollercoaster. Though parents may be skeptical, officials from the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes have assured the Daily Prophet that all attractions are magically reinforced and equipped with cushioning charms.
ilvermorny In an effort to expand the student’s knowledge about winter celebrations outside of the United States, the Student Senate has organized a winter-themed international day. Tents will be set up outside on the school grounds which will contain the celebratory customs of a variety of countries around the world. Students are welcomed to visit as many tents as they’d like to respectfully observe the way winter traditions and celebrations come together outside of the more well-known variations of the holiday.
The event will be held on the 19th of December from noon until dinner time. his day will be a half-day for students. After dinner, a small winter-themed dance will be held for the students choosing to remain for it, and the curfew will be lifted for this day only. Students are expected to stay on the grounds. Winter vacation will begin from the 19th of December.
For those students still looking for a last-minute souvenir or a unique gift for that special someone, even if that is yourself, the town of Shackamaxon will be hosting a winter-themed market. Take a stroll through the hundreds of kiosks offering anything from homemade crafts to rare magical collector’s items. For students more interested in keeping close to the grounds, are encouraged to participate in a magical bake-off where students, in collaboration with our favorite kitchen elves, will be competing for the title of Cookie Grand Master of 2003. As always, there will be ice skating available in the town square, though students are reminded to be careful and not to use magic to enhance their abilities. | beauxbatons Every year the palace of Beauxbatons is transformed for Christmas and this year is no different -- but the grand ice sculptures have somehow melted overnight, and the magical ice has refrozen all over the floors! Professors are trying to clean up the mess, but it’s not going so well; students have been recruited to spend their Student Services hours helping out. Hopefully it will all be tidied up before the feast on Friday 19th December before students head home for the holidays.
For those students remaining at school, the Yule Ball will be held on 21 December. Groundskeeper Monsieur García has decorated the Great Hall in preparation for the event, bedecking evergreens with ice baubles and glittering snowflakes, and Botanique professeur Madame Bonaccord has supplied enormous poinsettias. Rumours spread quickly through the school about the evening’s entertainment, with some students claiming that Madame Maxime had hired the sensational Candide Carre to give a performance, and others insisting that she would opt for the stalwart St. Gallen’s String Quartet, which recently celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. Both sides of the disagreement were ultimately disappointed when it transpired that the school had retained a DJ.
Most excitingly, though, was Madame Maxime’s announcement that Beauxbâtons will again be hosting a Pegasus Derby, to begin when term resumes in January. As many students returned to their families for the holiday, staff members have been instructed not to share details with any interested students who remain until January -- though prying students are likely to discern that the tournament will not be held for months, giving them plenty of time to prepare.
durmstrang After a month of rigorous training, Durmstrang is ready for their first-annual Dueling Tournament. Overseen by dueling professor Adonis Hristofis, this dueling tournament is meant to test not only House but individual merit. There will be one dueling champion among three levels, who will receive a trophy, with a second one displayed in the dueling quarters, along with a tuition stipend—which will increase as difficulty increases. These three levels are beginner (years 1-3), intermediate (years 4-5), and advanced (years 6-7). Students who have been known to compete in tournaments outside of school may request permission to “jump” to a higher level of difficulty, regardless of year. House points will be awarded to the house of the champion dueler, and the number of points will, again, be based upon level of difficulty.
For those interested in dueling, who are or are not members of the dueling team of their class, sign-ups will be posted outside of the dueling practice room. In addition to wand dueling, there will be a spotlight for those interested in weapons duels, with similar categories and prizes. Students are eligible to compete in both categories, though duplicate effort may put a student at a disadvantage in one or both categories. All participation is done at the student’s own risk, and cheating will result in disqualification and potential disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
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hogwarts This December, the Great Hall has been transformed into a multicultural winter wonderland. Enchanted snow, lofty pines adorned with fairy lights, and floating baubles are the featured decorations, but symbols from every winter holiday worldwide observed by even just one Hogwarts denizen are also present: a menorah nearly as tall as Professor Hagrid, long mkeka runners on each House table, and the list goes on. Throughout the month students and staff are invited to volunteer whatever time they are willing to give to help make meals or organize gently-used clothing drives for those in need, in the spirit of Boxing Day.
Additionally, the Head Girl and Head Boy have orchestrated a voluntary "Secret Snidget" gift exchange; said gift may be anything from a card to a baked treat to a scarf and beyond. Participants are strongly encouraged to make all or part the gift themselves (though may purchase any desired supplies) as opposed to simply buying something premade - regardless, students are not to spend more than 7 sickles** (or an egregious amount of time) on this.
Participation is voluntary, but if a student does sign up they are expected to commit. Sign-ups closed on the 30th of November. In order to participate, a student needed only to submit their name, Year, House, and three of their favorite things (to guide their gift-giver) on a slip of parchment and place it in a box in the Entrance Hall. On the 1st of December, participants received the slip of parchment for whom they are to give a gift. The catch: the giver and recipient would be either in the same Year or no more than one Year apart, and the giver and recipient would be in two different Houses. With the exception of these two stipulations, the assignments were random. Gifts are to be given no later than the last day of classes before the winter holiday (Friday, December 19th); the giver may choose to disclose their identity or keep it a secret.
Questions or concerns may be directed to the Prefects, Head Girl, and Head Boy - however only Professor McGonagall knows of the specific assignments. Additionally, classes will resume on Monday, January 5th.
**Note: 7ʄ ≈ $10.50 ≈ £7.90 |
