Summer holidays

Summer holidays
Event information
Location	Great Britain and Ireland
Date(s)	July to September, annually
Participant(s)	School students and staff
Description	School students and staff spending the holidays outside the school, both at Hogwarts and in the Muggle world

The summer holidays were holidays that were two months long separating the school years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and other schools, in both the Muggle and wizarding world. During this time, the students of Hogwarts returned to their families or guardians. Unlike the Christmas holidays, there was no regular option to spend the summer at Hogwarts. Exceptions could be made if approved by the Headmaster.

History

In the 1940s, Tom Marvolo Riddle, not wanting to return to his orphanage, asked Armando Dippet whether he could stay at Hogwarts, but was denied due to the opening of the Chamber of Secrets. With this in mind, Riddle framed Rubeus Hagrid for the crime, in hopes of gaining permission from Dippet to remain for the summer.

Severus Snape at home during the summer holidays

Some teachers also returned to their old homes, as Severus Snape did in 1996.

At the end of their first year, Hogwarts students received a notice stating that they were not allowed to use magic during the holidays, in accordance with the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery. This limit was lifted if the student in question reached the age of seventeen during the summer.

Shortly before the end of the holidays, the invitation and supply lists for the approaching school year were delivered to Hogwarts students. Approaching sixth years also received the results of their Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations during the holidays. School reports were possibly distributed during the holidays. For Hogwarts, the last day of the holidays was 31 August.

"I always stay at Hogwarts for Christmas and Easter holidays, and I don't ever want to go back to Privet Drive."

— Harry Potter on how much he despised returning to his Muggle guardian household over the summer

Harry Potter and his arch-nemesis Tom Riddle both detested the summer holidays during their respective education at Hogwarts, for they were both forced to return to their Muggle guardians, whom they hated deeply; both would prefer to remain at school during these holidays. While Tom requested permission and would have been granted special arrangements due to Dippet favouring him, Harry's return to 4 Privet Drive was mandatory due to the necessity to reinforce the bond of blood charm. However, Harry's summers were made more bearable when the Weasley family offered him to come over to their house, The Burrow, which he always accepted (after returning to Privet Drive briefly).

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First mentioned)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film) (Indirectly mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
• Pottermore
• Wizarding World
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (Mentioned only)
• Hogwarts Legacy (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened