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Tomorrow “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” comes out on video. Your younger author's book, “Values of Harry Potter” (ValuesOfHarryPotter.com), also makes an excellent addition to tree or stocking. What lessons do these magical novels hold for Christmas?
In his first year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry elects to stay at school over the holiday rather than return to his dreadful aunt and uncle. Harry's enemy Draco Malfoy mocks those “who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home.”
Yet Harry is pleased to stay at the school with his friends the Weasleys and some of his teachers, who decorate the school gloriously. Harry and Ron Weasley enjoy eating treats by the fire and playing chess.
Harry didn't expect any presents. “When he woke early in the morning, however, the first thing he saw was a small pile of packages at the foot of his bed.”
Harry's friend Hagrid had whittled him a flute, while Ron's mother had knit him a sweater and made him fudge. Mistreated by his blood relations, Harry finds his family in his friends at Hogwarts.
For his second Christmas at the school, Harry again enjoys exchanging gifts with friends and eating a magnificent feast. But this holiday Harry and his friends, Ron and Hermione, also plan some serious business.
The three suspect Malfoy is up to something nasty. So Harry and his friends drink a potion to make them look like Malfoy's cohorts so that they can spy.
When things are going well, Christmas involves relaxing, enjoying treats, and goofing around. But Christmas is also about keeping our loved ones safe.
For his third Hogwarts Christmas, Harry again enjoys presents and feasts with friends. Yet this year Ron and Hermione bicker.
The atmosphere strains again when Harry receives a superb new broomstick, which a teacher seizes thanks to Hermione's nosiness. Both Hermione and the teacher fear the gift was sent by an escaped criminal to harm Harry.
Christmas is not always idyllic. Friendships can suffer and overcome rough times and disagreements.
On Christmas day of Harry's fourth year, Harry is awakened with a start by Dobby, a house elf Harry had previously freed from slavery. Dobby was excited to give Harry a present.
Harry, having forgotten to get anything for Dobby, gives him a pair of old socks. But Dobby is delighted, for as a slave he was forbidden from wearing clothes. He says, “Socks are Dobby's favorite, favorite clothes, sir!”
Dobby in return gives Harry a pair of handmade socks decorated with broomsticks. Harry doesn't really like the socks, but Dobby's real gift is far greater, his sincere friendship.
With the fifth book, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” the series takes a darker turn, as the evil Lord Voldemort has regained power. Harry feels isolated and confused, having witnessed Voldemort's violence through a mysterious mental connection with the dark wizard. Harry's friends shake him out of his dour mood.
Despite the dangers they face, Harry's friends clean the house to sparkling, decorate the tree, and exchange presents. Sometimes Christmas is about facing our fears, comforting our friends, and making the best of gloomy times.
While visiting the hospital, Harry, Ron, and Hermione run into Neville, another friend from school. Neville is there to visit his parents, who had been tortured to insanity by Voldemort's followers.
Neville's grandmother realizes that Neville had never told his friends about his parents. She says, “They didn't give their health and their sanity so their only son would be ashamed of them.” Neville answers, “I'm not ashamed.”
Neville's mother hands him a gum wrapper. On their way out his grandmother tells him to throw it away, but Neville slips the wrapper into his pocket.
Aside from his memories, it is the only Christmas memento Neville gets from his mother. Sometimes such heartbreak is part of Christmas, too.
Harry's sixth wizarding Christmas is a day for truth-telling. The Minister of Magic visits Harry and asks him to feign support of the Ministry. Harry tells the Minister, “I don't like some of the things the Ministry's doing,” such as locking up an innocent person as a scapegoat.
In “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the final book, Christmas finds Harry in serious peril. Harry and his friends wander the country, hiding from Voldemort's forces while trying to find a way to defeat the dark wizard.
On a cold and snowy Christmas Eve, Harry visits his parents' grave. He sees a war memorial there with a statue of his parents, who gave their lives fighting Voldemort so that Harry could live.
Finally Harry finds his parents. The tombstone reads, “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” Then “Hermione raised her wand, moved it in a circle through the air, and a wreath of Christmas roses blossomed before them. Harry caught it and laid it on his parents' grave.”
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Linn Armstrong is a local political activist and firearms instructor with the Grand Valley Training Club. His son, Ari, edits FreeColorado.com from the Denver area.
In his first year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry elects to stay at school over the holiday rather than return to his dreadful aunt and uncle. Harry's enemy Draco Malfoy mocks those “who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home.”
Yet Harry is pleased to stay at the school with his friends the Weasleys and some of his teachers, who decorate the school gloriously. Harry and Ron Weasley enjoy eating treats by the fire and playing chess.
Harry didn't expect any presents. “When he woke early in the morning, however, the first thing he saw was a small pile of packages at the foot of his bed.”
Harry's friend Hagrid had whittled him a flute, while Ron's mother had knit him a sweater and made him fudge. Mistreated by his blood relations, Harry finds his family in his friends at Hogwarts.
For his second Christmas at the school, Harry again enjoys exchanging gifts with friends and eating a magnificent feast. But this holiday Harry and his friends, Ron and Hermione, also plan some serious business.
The three suspect Malfoy is up to something nasty. So Harry and his friends drink a potion to make them look like Malfoy's cohorts so that they can spy.
When things are going well, Christmas involves relaxing, enjoying treats, and goofing around. But Christmas is also about keeping our loved ones safe.
For his third Hogwarts Christmas, Harry again enjoys presents and feasts with friends. Yet this year Ron and Hermione bicker.
The atmosphere strains again when Harry receives a superb new broomstick, which a teacher seizes thanks to Hermione's nosiness. Both Hermione and the teacher fear the gift was sent by an escaped criminal to harm Harry.
Christmas is not always idyllic. Friendships can suffer and overcome rough times and disagreements.
On Christmas day of Harry's fourth year, Harry is awakened with a start by Dobby, a house elf Harry had previously freed from slavery. Dobby was excited to give Harry a present.
Harry, having forgotten to get anything for Dobby, gives him a pair of old socks. But Dobby is delighted, for as a slave he was forbidden from wearing clothes. He says, “Socks are Dobby's favorite, favorite clothes, sir!”
Dobby in return gives Harry a pair of handmade socks decorated with broomsticks. Harry doesn't really like the socks, but Dobby's real gift is far greater, his sincere friendship.
With the fifth book, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” the series takes a darker turn, as the evil Lord Voldemort has regained power. Harry feels isolated and confused, having witnessed Voldemort's violence through a mysterious mental connection with the dark wizard. Harry's friends shake him out of his dour mood.
Despite the dangers they face, Harry's friends clean the house to sparkling, decorate the tree, and exchange presents. Sometimes Christmas is about facing our fears, comforting our friends, and making the best of gloomy times.
While visiting the hospital, Harry, Ron, and Hermione run into Neville, another friend from school. Neville is there to visit his parents, who had been tortured to insanity by Voldemort's followers.
Neville's grandmother realizes that Neville had never told his friends about his parents. She says, “They didn't give their health and their sanity so their only son would be ashamed of them.” Neville answers, “I'm not ashamed.”
Neville's mother hands him a gum wrapper. On their way out his grandmother tells him to throw it away, but Neville slips the wrapper into his pocket.
Aside from his memories, it is the only Christmas memento Neville gets from his mother. Sometimes such heartbreak is part of Christmas, too.
Harry's sixth wizarding Christmas is a day for truth-telling. The Minister of Magic visits Harry and asks him to feign support of the Ministry. Harry tells the Minister, “I don't like some of the things the Ministry's doing,” such as locking up an innocent person as a scapegoat.
In “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the final book, Christmas finds Harry in serious peril. Harry and his friends wander the country, hiding from Voldemort's forces while trying to find a way to defeat the dark wizard.
On a cold and snowy Christmas Eve, Harry visits his parents' grave. He sees a war memorial there with a statue of his parents, who gave their lives fighting Voldemort so that Harry could live.
Finally Harry finds his parents. The tombstone reads, “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” Then “Hermione raised her wand, moved it in a circle through the air, and a wreath of Christmas roses blossomed before them. Harry caught it and laid it on his parents' grave.”
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Linn Armstrong is a local political activist and firearms instructor with the Grand Valley Training Club. His son, Ari, edits FreeColorado.com from the Denver area.
