"The Yule Ball is approaching - a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialize with our foreign guests."
This sent groans tumbling out of mouths and squeals of delight from some girls as, then Professor, Minerva McGonagall announced that the Yule Ball (which was part of the Triwizard Tournament) would be taking place on the evening of Christmas Day. Clearly, the girls were rather excited about that... well, who wouldn't be? It meant glamorous hair, gorgeous nails, and spellbinding dresses. The boys? They needed to learn dancing, and that really doesn't really appeal to most of the boys at all. That made me chuckle when I first read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. That's exactly the way I can imagine my brother reacting if he'd been told the same!
So, where was I? Oh yes... The Triwizard Tournament, and the accompanying Yule Ball, is just another way in which students from the three schools (Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Drumstrang) can let their hair down, have fun, and forget about everything. It is also a chance for the host school, in this case Hogwarts, to show the splendors of the Castle. Maybe even a little bit of an excuse to show off by bringing in decorations that they wouldn't normally have. Professor Flitwick's usual Christmas trees just won't make the grade this time. No, it's time to bring the ice sculptors and garlands and everything fancy out of hiding.
The Ball is also one of the few times where the three schools come together outside of the tasks of the tournament. It is lovely to see that even schools with different cultures can come together and improve magical relations. Hermione Granger attending the Ball with Durmstrang Champion, and Bulgarian Seeker, Viktor Krum, certainly ruffled a few feathers and got a few wands in a knot... especially Ron Weasley's. A hint of the future, maybe?
You can just picture the scenes in the dormitories as the girls help each other to make themselves sparkle and shine for their dates. Whilst the boys are nervously getting ready and having to help each other to get bow ties straight and dress robes on correctly. The boys practicing their dance moves one last time, fearing that they're about to make a mistake and embarrass themselves, their date and, of course, their Head of House!
Seeing the Great Hall looking so different must bring as much excitement as the whole Ball does itself. It really must have been such a thrill to see the elegantly, and extravagantly, decorated Hall. I mean, Yule Ball decorated, not the usual Hogwarts Christmas style. Where the House Tables, and the Head Table, are replaced with little round tables that show no House boundaries.
Of course, everyone looks unrecognizable. Hermione somehow managed to to straighten her hair so her curls were absent and she looked beautiful... Princess-like instead of the 14-year-old schoolgirl that she truly was. She'd been keeping who her date was a secret because she feared that she would be laughed at. I can see why she did that. Ron had already shown his jealousy after Harry's name had been pulled from the Goblet of Fire on Halloween night, what's to say it wouldn't show once he knew her date?
The meal is eaten before the dancing, which is rather sensible in my opinion because once the dancing starts nobody would really want to eat because they will be having too much fun. The attendees looked at a menu, said what they wanted, and it appeared on the table. This sounds like a much better idea to me rather than having either waiters or a buffet style dinner. It seems like an effective way to do meals! Maybe it's something that could have happened all year round, rather than just special events?
The Champions opened the dancing, with Harry being clueless and nervous about it. However, Pavarti stepped up and began to lead Harry as they danced with the other Champions before everyone else joined in. Despite the fact that it was a formal dance, it was still a night to relax and just have fun. After all - it is Christmas time!
While there are those who love dancing, there are also those like Harry and Ron - who are rather annoyed and unimpressed about the entire thing. They ended up missing their chance to go with who they wanted and began to neglect their actual dates to the point where they go off with different people. Though, I think the boys were caught up in their jealousy and anger so much that they truly didn't realize what they were doing.
For me, the Yule Ball shows what events can do. Yes, they might be a time for showing off for the school or whoever throws them. However, they are also a chance to build relationships... Friendships that may last forever. It isn't always about dressing up and looking pretty or handsome. Sometimes it's about those precious moments where we can forget any worries that we have and just dress up and pretend that we are a prince or a princess for a while. I'd never been to fancy Balls until I'd been at the Malfoys for Christmas. Now, for me, Yule Balls just capture the magic and spirit of Christmas perfectly. Sometimes it isn't about the presents at all, it's about the magic and grandeur of the occasion and dressing up and attending Yule Balls. Make your own Yule Ball this year!
Merry Christmas!
Adele xx