The rest of the Harry Potter badges in this set have steps to provide you with material for day camp, afternoon camps and other non-holiday activities. Some of those activities can be adjusted slightly and used with a Christmas theme. This badge program focuses on the happenings in the Harry Potter world during Christmas.
Steps
Event Possibilities
1. Food.
A feast can take an entire day to prepare. From deciding what to serve to preparation to enjoying the final product, an entire event can be held around learning about English food and those dishes specifically mentioned in the Harry Potter saga. Typically, large meals are prepared and enjoyed around festive occasions, such as Christmas. See the RECIPE FUN supplements listed below for food ideas for this event.
Alternatively, you might want to stick to sweets, inspired by Honeyduke’s. You can do a sweet treat exchange or learn to make some treats together.
2. Ball.
While the Yule Ball was mentioned in a previously released badge program, you can create an event around the ball only. Start with teaching your kids various dances, tips for “dressing up” including applying make-up, making decorations and more activities that can go into preparing for a dance. Then hold your ball.
3. Weasley.
Picture Christmas at the Burrows with the Weasley family. From knitting scarves and hats to homemade treats, you can bring a family Christmas to your troop, group or even do this as a service project, donating the items you make to a homeless shelter or other needy organization.
4. Hogwarts.
Most years, there are more staff than students that stay at Hogwarts for the holidays. Try a toned-down theme featuring decorating a Christmas tree with homemade ornaments and readings from “The Tales of Beedle the Bard”. Crafting ornaments can be one activity. Check out the LIST FUN supplement listed below with some ideas to start. What other ideas can you come up with?
5. Host.
Create a Hogwarts Christmas for others — younger troops, children at a homeless shelter, etc. Incorporate ideas from the event ideas above or from the specific activities below.
Specific Activities
6. List.
Below is a quick list of possible activities mentioned in the Christmas ideas above. Feel free to mix and match these into your own unique Christmas celebration.
- Create a Christmas feast
- Share a Christmas feast
- Enjoy a Christmas feast
- Dancing
- Proper attire for a ball
- Party etiquette
- Making decorations
- Knit hats and scarves
- Make homemade gift treats
- Decorate a Christmas tree
- Make Hogwarts-inspired ornaments
- Listen to stories from “The Tales of Beedle the Bard”
7. Donate.
Instead of putting up and decorating a tree, place the tree in a public location. Create your own ornaments or ask others to help decorate the tree. Exchange ornaments on the tree for gifts for needy families. Brainstorm your own exchange program, places that would appreciate a specially decorated tree, etc.
8. Rides.
Sleigh rides are a wonderful way to spread holiday cheer as the bells ring across the snow. You can do them for your own group or share them with the public and request they share the Christmas spirit as you have with them. What other rides might you be able to have that would fit within the Harry Potter universe?
9. Bonfire.
Taken from the “Harry Potter: Science” badge program, gather your ingredients to make your fire magical. Instead of being in a small fireplace, create a bonfire outside to enjoy readings or songs.
10. Carols.
From dressing in white as caroling ghosts to enjoying traditional caroling, Christmas is the most musical of the holidays. Be sure to practice with your group before starting out and perhaps even provide a small songbook with the lyrics for use during the event as well as a memento for participants to keep.
11. Snow.
Create snow sculptures of the architecture, creatures or even characters from Harry Potter. If you want to add color, provide spray bottles mixed with colorant. Keep these bottles warmed so they don’t freeze. Be sure to provide an area to warm up with refreshments. You might even want to make it a contest to encourage participation.
12. Secret.
Harry received an anonymous gift, so why not encourage giving within your group or troop? Host a Secret Santa exchange and reveal the gift givers at a special event.
13. Socks.
Allow everyone to bring and decorate one or more pairs of socks. They can be for a gift exchange, as a service project or your group can play Dobby’s Mismatched Socks. Find the supplement for the game listed below in PLAY FUN..
14. Camp.
While your tents might not be like Hermoine’s, camping in the wilderness during the holidays is a lot more likely to happen as most schools are not in session. Most clubs and groups don’t do much during the holidays, so use this time wisely. You might even want to decorate the trees outside the cabin with nuts and berries for our feathered and furry friends.
15. Costume.
Ask everyone to dress up as their favorite Harry Potter character, Including Muggles. Rate them on their outfits as well as how well they play the role they’ve selected.
Badge and Supplement Files
Member Level
- 0EP_B_BPG_XMHog_2in_12up_MS1_larajla — generic badge printable
- 0EP_BLIST_XMHog_MS1_larajla — badge items per membership level
- 0EP_BSET0_XMHog_MS1_larajla —badge set and related badges
- 0EP_SUPP0_XMHog_Journal_MS1_larajla — badge journal
- 0EP_SUPP0_XMHog_Planner_MS1_larajla — badge planner
- 0EP_SUPPL_XMHog_MS1_larajla — supplements currently available per membership level
Supplement Fun
- 0EP_SUPP0_List Fun_HP_Ornament Ideas_MS2_larajla – List Fun: Ornament Ideas
- 0EP_SUPP0_Play Fun_HP_Dobby’s Mismatched Socks_MS2_larajla – Play Fun: Dobby’s Mismatched Socks
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Brandy Butter_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Brandy Butter
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Bread Butter Pudding_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Bread Butter Pudding
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Christmas Cake_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Christmas Cake
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Cranberry Sauce_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Cranberry Sauce
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Crème au Caramel_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Creme au Caramel
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Crème Brulee_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Creme Brulee
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Mince Pie_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Mince Pie
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Roast Gravy_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Roast Gravy
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Roast Parsnips_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Roast Parsnips
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Roast Potatoes_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Roast Potatoes
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Rock Cakes_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Rock Cakes
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Sausage Rolls_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Sausage Rolls
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Scones_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Scones
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Scottish Tablet_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Scottish Tablet
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Sherry Triffle_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Sherry Triffle
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Smoked Salmon_ Potato Quiche_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Smoked Salmon and Potato Quiche
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Spotted Dick_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Spotted Dick
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Traditional Christmas Pudding_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Traditional Christmas Pudding
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Treacle Tart_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Treacle Tart
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Treacle Toffee_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Treacle Toffee
- 0EP_SUPP0_Recipe Fun_HP_Yorkshire Pudding_MS2_larajla – Recipe Fun: Yorkshire Pudding
Sites to Explore
- harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Christmas_at_Hogwarts
- harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Christmas
- www.wikihow.com/Hold-a-Harry-Potter-Party
- www.tumblr.com/tagged/harry-potter-party
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tales_of_Beedle_the_Bard
- blog.writersdomain.net/throw-a-harry-potter-christmas-party
- www.mykidstime.com/parties/hogwarts-feast-harry-potter-food-ideas
- www.pinterest.com/maypatterson02/hogwarts-christmas-party-ideas
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQBwhNYHbfY
Get the infographic here > larajla blog post
Get the PDFs of the badge program / supplements here