Near the end of Hamlet's opening scene, Horatio and the guards, Marcellus and Bernardo, are trying to warm themselves (both physically and psychologically) after a rough night. After all, they've seen the ghost of their previous monarch, dressed for battle, march by them twice without giving them even a small acknowledgement. They've also had their worst fears confirmed regarding the state of the nation - i.e. they are preparing for war and there is an immanent threat of invasion at hand. And so Marcellus tries to revive their spirits by recalling a set of beliefs related to the Christmas season:

Some say that ever, 'gainst that season comes

Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated,

The bird of dawning singeth all night long;

And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad,

The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike,

No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,

So hallow'd and so gracious is the time.

The unexpected mention of the holiday in an unlikely setting (the battlements of a castle) render the moment even more poignant. It can also make us consider the importance of imaginative ideals of peace and good will in an imperfect world. Let's hope that, with the help of great art, we continue to move in the right direction. Happy holidays.