‘Tis the season to be as jolly as a ChuChu — or at least to look as jolly as their unshakable smiles do! What would the holidays look like in Hyrule, I’ve often wondered. Well, luckily, hundreds of talented artists have thought the same thing over the years and have created some truly Christmassy works of art, so we don’t have to imagine.
One such piece, which is perfectly drawn by DeviantArt user Aquanut, beautifully depicts a festive snapshot of Windfall Island from The Wind Waker celebrating the holidays. Whether it’s taking place during Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, it’s clear that joy and generosity — two of the truest gifts at Christmas time — are swirling in the seaside air.
Now, before I talk about all the great character choices, I have to bring attention to the wonderfully warm and wintry tone of this piece. It truly encapsulates that fuzzy Christmas feel, where candles, fireplaces, and fairy lights cast comforting colors onto everything around them. I think it’s the soft-yet-distinct shadows and relaxed pastel colors that expertly reflect this, as the piece looks like it’s literally been bathed in a calming glow. At the risk of sounding redundant, it truly is a work of art.
Not only that, but the town of Windfall has been wrapped from head to toe in Christmas decorations — from garlands and colored lights to snowflake bunting and a huge Christmas tree that rivals the Great Deku Tree. I’d love to walk through its streets and soak up all the festivity. It reminds me of a quaint Christmas market that you’d find yourself browsing on a chilly Sunday morning.
While at this Hylian Christmas market, you might stumble across Link and Tetra spreading kindness to everyone they meet. Even Mila’s normally stubborn frown has been turned upside down by Link’s generosity. Meanwhile, the shop guru Zunari’s stiff entrepreneurial exterior has been melted away and replaced with a warm smile as he witnesses this kindness.
Other residents of the town also enjoy the Christmas spirit, with Garrickson blushing at a letter he’s either sending or receiving while Linda and Anton shyly exchange gifts — all three of them are clearly filled with festive feelings of love. In the background, we see Maggie’s father making it rain with Rupees, using his newfound wealth to give to the less fortunate, while his daughter in the foreground looks upward with wonder in her eyes — almost like a child seeing Christmas lights for the first time.
Finally, we see Mrs. Marie most prominently in the right-hand corner, wrapped up in a scarf and carrying shopping bags. But what makes her prominence so appropriate in my eyes is that she’s donned her Joy Pendant for everyone to see. Whether intended by Aquanut or not, I’d like to think this is a clear reflection of what makes Christmas so special for many people: feeling joyful and sharing that joy with others, exactly as Link did with that symbolic pendant.
And on that note, I hope all your holidays are filled with happiness!
