Harry Potter: 5 Reasons Why The Movies Are Perfect For Christmas (And 5 Why're Perfect For Halloween)
In the Harry Potter movies, fans saw the students celebrate several holidays. However, does this deem them as a Christmas movie or a Halloween one?
But why can't they be both? Why do they have to just belong to the one genre? After all, both sides have made several valid and interesting points. But if one wants to know why people believe them to be the perfect movies for these holidays, here are a couple of reasons why.
10 Christmas: Director For First Film
The first two Harry Potter films, The Sorcerer's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets, were directed by Chris Columbus. Columbus brought Harry and Hogwarts to life, as these two first films are widely considered to be the most accurate based on the books. He also happened to direct other Christmas classics, such as Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and Gremlins.
If a fan of Harry Potter watches the opening sequence to Home Alone, they will surely get Sorcerer's Stone vibes before Columbus's name even appears. The film also has the same vibe and music that was orchestrated by John Williams.
9 Halloween: Witches & Wizards
The idea of witches, wizards, and magic, in general, is typically associated with Halloween. Halloween is the time of year when magic comes to life, and what better way to celebrate than watching the magical series itself.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione are the witch and wizards that first come to mind when most people say "wizards" nowadays anyway.
8 Christmas: They Celebrate Christmas
The first Harry Potter movie actually has a scene about the traditional Christmas Morning. Harry awakens, assuming it would just be any other day. However, he soon finds himself surprised when he spots Ron waiting for him in the common room and was genuinely delighted that he had someone to spend his holiday with.
The two wish each other a "Happy Christmas" just before Ron tells Harry that he has presents, something Harry has never experienced before. Ron's mother gives Harry a knitted sweater it is here that he is gifted the famous invisibility cloak. This also isn't the only Harry Potter film to feature the holiday celebration.
7 Halloween: They Celebrate Halloween
The first film also features a Halloween night. Hogwarts celebrates the holiday by hosting a Halloween meal, filled with treats, pumpkin juice, and everything relating to a hearty fall meal.
In the midst of the meal, Professor Quirrell runs into the Great Hall, yelling that a troll is loose in the castle. The Halloween festivities are cut short and Harry and Ron help Hermione defeat the troll, finally establishing their friendship.
6 Christmas: Snowy Setting
Since the Harry Potter movies follow the students throughout their school year, the audience sees them experience winter - the time of year where it's coldest and the school grounds are filled with snow. In this atmosphere, Hogwarts is seen to look like a Winter Wonderland.
The audiences can see some of the students' best memories created in this time period as they get into the festive spirit. They see Harry best Draco and his friends in a snowball fight, excited students walk the shopping trails of Hogsmeade. Audiences can even spot Fred and George making a snowman. When it snows at Hogwarts, one knows that it will be a festive time.
5 Halloween: Darker Palette
The films seemingly fit the Halloween aesthetic in more ways than one. From the pumpkins, the floating lights, all the way to the ghosts, the color palette of the film in general just matches the "fall aesthetic."
Not to mention how the deep burgundy of Gryffindor, the dark wood of the Great Hall, and the grey color of the castle's stones all scream Halloween too.
4 Christmas: Love
One of the most important themes of the Harry Potter films is the idea of love. As many know, there are all kinds of love in the movies: there is the paternal kind, the familial kind, the one that occurs between friends, and obviously romance.
Harry has lived a life without being loved and it is only when he first starts at Hogwarts that he begins to realize how important is to so many people. It is also the time where he truly learns what it means to let others know how much they matter. After all, death is a familiar concept to him.
3 Halloween: Goblins, Trolls, & Pumpkin Juice
There are a ton of mythological creatures and general Halloween themes throughout the Harry Potter movies. There were the goblins in the bank, the troll in the dungeon, the ghosts that wander through the castle, and of course, Voldemort.
Audiences also can't forget the gigantic spiders, unicorns, or werewolves either. The characters and creatures within these movies fit the Halloween genre perfectly.
2 Christmas: Makes Harry Feel Less Alone
Whenever Christmas is highlighted in a Harry Potter film, it is always to show how Harry expects to be alone, but isn't. As mentioned, in the first few films he has Ron. In the third, he spends time with Ron and Hermione in Hogsmeade and in the fourth, he attends the Yule ball.
The fifth film has what is probably the most important Christmas scene, as he spends it all on those he considers to be his family. From Hermione, the Weasleys, to Sirius Black, this is the first time Harry has almost everything he wanted. If this was a Christmas film, it would have been perfect to end it there.
1 Halloween: Scary Themes
Throughout the eight films, there are some pretty spooky themes that encompass the franchise. Harry is a wizard after all and dark magic is a thing that exists in his world.
From following the spiders to the Forbidden Forest to the Dementors taking over Hogwarts, there are some scenes that get pretty intense. Though the series is far from the horror genre, there are scenes sprinkled throughout the films that could definitely give someone a scare and be perfect for Halloween night.