Hogwarts gets a sprinkling of Christmas magic

Calling all Harry Potter fans! Grab your broomsticks and take a look at this awesome video of the newly snow-covered Hogwarts at the Warner Bros. Studio tour in London.

From Friday 15th November 2013, visitors will get the chance to see the castle as it has never been seen before, with its iconic festive look recreated for the first time.

Strangely enough, the artificial snow used on the Hogwarts castle model throughout the Harry Potter film series was actually dendritic salt. It was chosen because it clumps like snow and even squeaks when walked on. During filming, a member of the crew would have climbed aboard a cherry picker and put salt on the model by hand with a sieve – like dusting sugar onto a cake. The same process has been used at the Studio Tour this November and samples of the different types of salt used will also be on display.

Model Effects Supervisor, Jose Granell commented: “It’s great to be back at the Studio Tour and to be snowing the Hogwarts model. We’ve spent a week sprinkling the snow on by hand and the finished effect is really beautiful. It looks exactly like it did when we were filming the Harry Potter film series and it’s something very magical to enjoy this Christmas.”

Some of the intricately-detailed sets showcased at the attraction have been given a festive makeover using the actual decorations and food props seen in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Eight Christmas trees will line the Great Hall, along with festoons of holly, mistletoe and golden wreaths. Two long dining tables will be dressed as they were for seasonal feasts with prop versions of turkeys, hams, fruit, vegetables, plum puddings and snow cakes. The food featured in the feasts throughout the early films was real; however, the Set Decoration Department later used artificial food created from powder and resin.