Yule Ball

[twister10_2000]

No: HPFGUIDX 46698

I've searched through 6 pages of search results hoping to find the 
answer to my question, so I really do hope it hasn't been brought up 
too many times.

My question stems from an arguement my sister and I had. She was re-
reading the chapter on the Yule Ball, and made a comment about the 
Yule-ball-to be in Year 5. At this point, I made some form of a rude 
comment about her intelligence and stated that the Yule Ball only 
happens in years in which the TriWizard Tournament takes place. At 
which point she made a rude comment about my intelligence and I ended 
up here, feeling quite unsure about my intelligence/interpretation of 
the books. 

Here were our arguements:

For-

-The Ball is only for Hogwarts students years 4 and up (without a 
date, of course), so perhaps this a rite of passage akin to 
Hogsmeades trips, and hence the reason it's never been mentioned 
before). This was my sister's major point.

-Everyone seems to know exactly what it is. If there's only one every 
time there's a tournament, and the last time prior to GoF was over a 
hundred years ago, how would they know? (My response to this: It's a 
Yule Ball, not quite that hard to figure out, now is it?)


Against-

-The tournament is to take place every four years (the rules prior to 
the cancellation and reinstatement of the tournament) if all goes 
according to plan. Thus, it's make sense as to why only 4th years and 
up are allowed without a date. Take the third year class for example: 
Had Ginny not been taken by Neveille then she would have been able to 
participate in the ball in her seventh year when the next tournament 
& ball would take place. This also makes it easy for Rowling, since 
Harry was a 4th year, she'd never have to right another 
tournament/ball again. 

-There has been no mention of it in prior books around this time. 
Surely, we'd hear jokes about Percy & Penelope from the Weasley 
twins, or Harry's envy as a third year when Cho goes to the ball with 
someone. (My sister's counter: We never heard about the Hogsmeade's 
trips either, and surely our young sleuths would wonder why half the 
common room is empty on certain days or why there are signs posted 
for trips every month or so.)

-Winter Holidays. The Yule ball is, in essence, a winter/Christmas 
celebration (unless my understanding of 'Yule' is horribly 
misconstrued), yet all we ever hear about during this time is the 
Christmas feast. Surely, if there were so few people that stayed in 
the castle normally during the winter holidays, the chances of Harry 
and co. hearing about it would be greater. Also, wouldn't the number 
of people who stay at school for the break be much higher? Seems 
awfully wasteful to have such a huge ball for so few people. 

-I remember hearing/reading that the Yule Ball was a celebration 
specifically of/for the tournament.

  
Thanks,
Jess