My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Wiki
For the titular holiday, see Hearth's Warming.
Hearth's Warming Eve
Season №: 2
Season episode №: 11
Overall episode №: 37
Original airdate: December 17, 2011
Written by: Merriwether Williams
Storyboard: Joel Dickie & Emmett Hall[1]
Featured characters: Windigos
Song: The Heart Carol
See also
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animation errorsstatisticsspeculation
Episode guide
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Hearth's Warming Eve is the eleventh episode of the second season of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic and the thirty-seventh episode overall. In this episode, the Mane Six and Spike star in a pageant about the founding of Equestria.

The Hearth's Warming holiday depicted in this episode is largely analogous to modern-day cultural observances of Christmas.

Production[]

The episode initially showed up as number thirteen on Zap2it and the iTunes library. One of the show's layout artists suggested in an online forum that the episode might have been number thirteen in the season's production order, which would account for it being listed as the thirteenth episode in Zap2it's TV guide.[2]

The plot of the Hearth's Warming Eve play partly overlaps with the story in the iOS storybook application My Little Pony: Twilight Sparkle, Teacher for a Day. The storybook application came out three months before the episode. The episode was #9 in the We Heart Ponies Fan Favorite Mare-a-thon, in the lead up to Hearts and Hooves Day.

The scene before the play starts when Fluttershy reveals her stage fright reappears in Memnagerie.

Summary[]

The Canterlot pageant[]

Ponies on a train to Canterlot S02E11

Choo, Choo! Canterlot, here we come!

Snow falls across Equestria as the Mane Six take the Friendship Express to Canterlot. They arrive to find the city festooned with holiday lights, giant candy canes, wreaths, and decorated fir trees.

Later, while ponies file into a theater in the Canterlot palace, the Mane Six put on costumes and makeup backstage as they prepare to star in a pageant about the founding of Equestria. Applejack remarks how the pageant is about harmony and friendship, though when a nearby window blows open, the ponies find themselves arguing over who should shut it. In the packed theater, the lights dim and the curtain draws to reveal Spike in medieval garb as he begins narrating the story.

The mysterious blizzard[]

"It was a strange and dark time. A time when ponies were torn apart... by hatred!"
— Spike

Long before Princess Celestia's rule, the three pony tribes lived together in a tenuous agreement to supply each others' needs: Earth ponies produced food, Pegasi regulated the weather, and unicorns magically brought forth day and night. Their misgivings toward each other reach a breaking point when an unrelenting blizzard results in food shortages, prompting the tribe leaders to convene a summit to address the matter.

Leader Meeting S02E11

The meeting of all meetings.

Princess Platinum (Rarity), Commander Hurricane (Rainbow Dash), and Chancellor Puddinghead (Pinkie Pie) meet to discuss the blizzard, though they end up taking offense at each other's distrust and return to their advisors without a solution. Commander Hurricane tells Private Pansy (Fluttershy) that the warrior-like Pegasi should "break ranks" with the other ponies. Princess Platinum complains to Clover the Clever (Twilight Sparkle) about having to live near the "lowly creatures" of the other tribes, while Chancellor Puddinghead, upon learning from Smart Cookie (Applejack) that the Earth ponies have run out of food, proposes that they leave in search of fresh fertile ground. At the end of the debriefs, the three leaders determine to find a new land for their tribe.

Finding a new land[]

Tribe reunion S2E11

The three tribes find their new land... at the same time.

Commander Hurricane and Private Pansy fly together through the snow clouds until they reach a sunny mountainous region that they call Pegasopolis. Princess Platinum and Clover the Clever travel from their castle until they come across jewel-encrusted slopes that they name Unicornia. Chancellor Puddinghead and Smart Cookie head out from their homeland and eventually find a lush clearing with fertile soil that they settle on calling Earth.

Just as the leaders plant their flags, they suddenly notice that all three tribes have laid claim to the exact same territory. They become belligerent even as their advisors call for calm, though when Chancellor Puddinghead starts throwing snowballs at Commander Hurricane and Princess Platinum, the group realize that the blizzard has followed them to the new land.

The blizzard returns[]

Stalemate S02E11

Fighting over the cave.

The ponies take shelter in a desolate cave, but when the leaders start arguing over ownership of the space, a layer of ice creeps inside and freezes them solid. As Clover the Clever, Private Pansy, and Smart Cookie huddle together in the center of the cave, they notice several windigos flying above them and realize that hatred between the tribes empowered the creatures to create the blizzard. The three advisors remark how they don't hate each other and recognize their shared identity as ponies moments before their bodies become encased in ice.

"No matter what our differences, we're all ponies."
— Smart Cookie (Applejack)

Seconds later, Clover the Clever's horn surges with magic, cracking the advisors out of the ice and creating a large heart-shaped flame that vanquishes the windigos. The three ponies keep the fire going by telling stories and singing songs until it eventually melts the rest of the ice and frees the leaders. With the blizzard gone, the tribes set aside their differences and agree to share the land, which they name Equestria.

The Friendships Burn On S02E11

The flame still burns on...

The pageant ends, and the Mane Six join the audience in singing a closing carol. Backstage, Twilight concludes that Princess Celestia chose them to perform the play because they exemplify what good friends are, though a gust of wind through the still-open window causes them to break into argument over who should close it. The sudden sound of a roaring windigo prompts Rainbow Dash to volunteer, and as the ponies laugh together, a large heart-shaped flame appears floating above the theater.

Quotes[]

For more quotes, see the episode's transcript.
Fluttershy: I'm so excited, I— I feel like shouting! (softly) Woo hoo!
Twilight Sparkle: I have an idea, let's play 'I spy with my little eye' as we walk! I'll go first. I spy... an eight foot candy cane.
Rainbow Dash: I spy a snowpony!
Pinkie Pie: I spy somepony eating a gingerbread house... and it's me!
Applejack: It's a reenactment of the founding of Equestria. It's not the Rainbow Dash Show.
Rainbow Dash: Well it should be the Rainbow Dash Show! I'm the star!
Spike: Perhaps the three tribes could finally settle their differences and agree on a way to get through this disaster.
Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity: [arguing]
Pinkie Pie: Oh my gosh. Hold on to your hooves... I am just about to be brilliant!
Applejack: That'd be a first.
Rarity: Oh, this is simply taking forever. My hooves are killing me! How long have we been walking for?
Twilight Sparkle: About five minutes, your highness.
Fluttershy: I can see my future house from here.
Pinkie Pie: In the name of Earth ponies, I think I'm gonna call this place... uh... 'Dirtville'!
Applejack: How about 'Earth'?
Pinkie Pie: Earth! Congratulations to me for thinking of it.
Spike: Instead of beautiful, it was blizzardy. Instead of wonderful, it was wintry! Instead of spectacular, it was snow-tacular! Instead of—
Shoeshine: We get it! Move on!
Fluttershy: Well, I don't hate you... I actually hate Commander Hurricane a lot more than I hate you guys.
Applejack and Twilight Sparkle: [giggling]
Fluttershy: Actually, I don't really hate her, I just really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really dislike her.

Gallery[]

Hearth's Warming Eve image gallery

References[]

  1. Raven Molisee's DeviantArt journal (2012-02-23). Retrieved on 2012 February 23.
  2. Secret Agent Mane - The Allspark Forums. Retrieved on 2011 December 2. Archived locally.
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Episodes, films, and animated shorts
Friendship is Magic
Season one
Episode 1
Friendship is Magic, part 1
Episode 2
Friendship is Magic, part 2
Episode 3
The Ticket Master
Episode 4
Applebuck Season
Episode 5
Griffon the Brush Off
Episode 6
Boast Busters
Episode 7
Dragonshy
Episode 8
Look Before You Sleep
Episode 9
Bridle Gossip
Episode 10
Swarm of the Century
Episode 11
Winter Wrap Up
Episode 12
Call of the Cutie
Episode 13
Fall Weather Friends
Episode 14
Suited For Success
Episode 15
Feeling Pinkie Keen
Episode 16
Sonic Rainboom
Episode 17
Stare Master
Episode 18
The Show Stoppers
Episode 19
A Dog and Pony Show
Episode 20
Green Isn't Your Color
Episode 21
Over a Barrel
Episode 22
A Bird in the Hoof
Episode 23
The Cutie Mark Chronicles
Episode 24
Owl's Well That Ends Well
Episode 25
Party of One
Episode 26
The Best Night Ever
Season two
Episode 1
The Return of Harmony Part 1
Episode 2
The Return of Harmony Part 2
Episode 3
Lesson Zero
Episode 4
Luna Eclipsed
Episode 5
Sisterhooves Social
Episode 6
The Cutie Pox
Episode 7
May the Best Pet Win!
Episode 8
The Mysterious Mare Do Well
Episode 9
Sweet and Elite
Episode 10
Secret of My Excess
Episode 11
Hearth's Warming Eve
Episode 12
Family Appreciation Day
Episode 13
Baby Cakes
Episode 14
The Last Roundup
Episode 15
The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000
Episode 16
Read It and Weep
Episode 17
Hearts and Hooves Day
Episode 18
A Friend in Deed
Episode 19
Putting Your Hoof Down
Episode 20
It's About Time
Episode 21
Dragon Quest
Episode 22
Hurricane Fluttershy
Episode 23
Ponyville Confidential
Episode 24
MMMystery on the Friendship Express
Episode 25
A Canterlot Wedding - Part 1
Episode 26
A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2
Season three
Episode 1
The Crystal Empire - Part 1
Episode 2
The Crystal Empire - Part 2
Episode 3
Too Many Pinkie Pies
Episode 4
One Bad Apple
Episode 5
Magic Duel
Episode 6
Sleepless in Ponyville
Episode 7
Wonderbolts Academy
Episode 8
Apple Family Reunion
Episode 9
Spike at Your Service
Episode 10
Keep Calm and Flutter On
Episode 11
Just for Sidekicks
Episode 12
Games Ponies Play
Episode 13
Magical Mystery Cure
Season four
Episode 1
Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 1
Episode 2
Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 2
Episode 3
Castle Mane-ia
Episode 4
Daring Don't
Episode 5
Flight to the Finish
Episode 6
Power Ponies
Episode 7
Bats!
Episode 8
Rarity Takes Manehattan
Episode 9
Pinkie Apple Pie
Episode 10
Rainbow Falls
Episode 11
Three's A Crowd
Episode 12
Pinkie Pride
Episode 13
Simple Ways
Episode 14
Filli Vanilli
Episode 15
Twilight Time
Episode 16
It Ain't Easy Being Breezies
Episode 17
Somepony to Watch Over Me
Episode 18
Maud Pie
Episode 19
For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils
Episode 20
Leap of Faith
Episode 21
Testing Testing 1, 2, 3
Episode 22
Trade Ya!
Episode 23
Inspiration Manifestation
Episode 24
Equestria Games
Episode 25
Twilight's Kingdom - Part 1
Episode 26
Twilight's Kingdom - Part 2
Season five
Episode 1
The Cutie Map - Part 1
Episode 2
The Cutie Map - Part 2
Episode 3
Castle Sweet Castle
Episode 4
Bloom & Gloom
Episode 5
Tanks for the Memories
Episode 6
Appleoosa's Most Wanted
Episode 7
Make New Friends but Keep Discord
Episode 8
The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone
Episode 9
Slice of Life
Episode 10
Princess Spike
Episode 11
Party Pooped
Episode 12
Amending Fences
Episode 13
Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?
Episode 14
Canterlot Boutique
Episode 15
Rarity Investigates!
Episode 16
Made in Manehattan
Episode 17
Brotherhooves Social
Episode 18
Crusaders of the Lost Mark
Episode 19
The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows
Episode 20
Hearthbreakers
Episode 21
Scare Master
Episode 22
What About Discord?
Episode 23
The Hooffields and McColts
Episode 24
The Mane Attraction
Episode 25
The Cutie Re-Mark - Part 1
Episode 26
The Cutie Re-Mark - Part 2
Season six
Episode 1
The Crystalling - Part 1
Episode 2
The Crystalling - Part 2
Episode 3
The Gift of the Maud Pie
Episode 4
On Your Marks
Episode 5
Gauntlet of Fire
Episode 6
No Second Prances
Episode 7
Newbie Dash
Episode 8
A Hearth's Warming Tail
Episode 9
The Saddle Row Review
Episode 10
Applejack's "Day" Off
Episode 11
Flutter Brutter
Episode 12
Spice Up Your Life
Episode 13
Stranger Than Fan Fiction
Episode 14
The Cart Before the Ponies
Episode 15
28 Pranks Later
Episode 16
The Times They Are A Changeling
Episode 17
Dungeons & Discords
Episode 18
Buckball Season
Episode 19
The Fault in Our Cutie Marks
Episode 20
Viva Las Pegasus
Episode 21
Every Little Thing She Does
Episode 22
P.P.O.V. (Pony Point of View)
Episode 23
Where the Apple Lies
Episode 24
Top Bolt
Episode 25
To Where and Back Again - Part 1
Episode 26
To Where and Back Again - Part 2
Season seven
Episode 1
Celestial Advice
Episode 2
All Bottled Up
Episode 3
A Flurry of Emotions
Episode 4
Rock Solid Friendship
Episode 5
Fluttershy Leans In
Episode 6
Forever Filly
Episode 7
Parental Glideance
Episode 8
Hard to Say Anything
Episode 9
Honest Apple
Episode 10
A Royal Problem
Episode 11
Not Asking for Trouble
Episode 12
Discordant Harmony
Episode 13
The Perfect Pear
Episode 14
Fame and Misfortune
Episode 15
Triple Threat
Episode 16
Campfire Tales
Episode 17
To Change a Changeling
Episode 18
Daring Done?
Episode 19
It Isn't the Mane Thing About You
Episode 20
A Health of Information
Episode 21
Marks and Recreation
Episode 22
Once Upon a Zeppelin
Episode 23
Secrets and Pies
Episode 24
Uncommon Bond
Episode 25
Shadow Play - Part 1
Episode 26
Shadow Play - Part 2
Season eight
Episode 1
School Daze - Part 1
Episode 2
School Daze - Part 2
Episode 3
The Maud Couple
Episode 4
Fake It 'Til You Make It
Episode 5
Grannies Gone Wild
Episode 6
Surf and/or Turf
Episode 7
Horse Play
Episode 8
The Parent Map
Episode 9
Non-Compete Clause
Episode 10
The Break Up Break Down
Episode 11
Molt Down
Episode 12
Marks for Effort
Episode 13
The Mean 6
Episode 14
A Matter of Principals
Episode 15
The Hearth's Warming Club
Episode 16
Friendship University
Episode 17
The End in Friend
Episode 18
Yakity-Sax
Episode 19
Road to Friendship
Episode 20
The Washouts
Episode 21
A Rockhoof and a Hard Place
Episode 22
What Lies Beneath
Episode 23
Sounds of Silence
Episode 24
Father Knows Beast
Episode 25
School Raze - Part 1
Episode 26
School Raze - Part 2
Season nine
Episode 1
The Beginning of the End - Part 1
Episode 2
The Beginning of the End - Part 2
Episode 3
Uprooted
Episode 4
Sparkle's Seven
Episode 5
The Point of No Return
Episode 6
Common Ground
Episode 7
She's All Yak
Episode 8
Frenemies
Episode 9
Sweet and Smoky
Episode 10
Going to Seed
Episode 11
Student Counsel
Episode 12
The Last Crusade
Episode 13
Between Dark and Dawn
Episode 14
The Last Laugh
Episode 15
2, 4, 6, Greaaat
Episode 16
A Trivial Pursuit
Episode 17
The Summer Sun Setback
Episode 18
She Talks to Angel
Episode 19
Dragon Dropped
Episode 20
A Horse Shoe-In
Episode 21
Daring Doubt
Episode 22
Growing Up is Hard to Do
Episode 23
The Big Mac Question
Episode 24
The Ending of the End - Part 1
Episode 25
The Ending of the End - Part 2
Episode 26
The Last Problem
Clip shows
Episode 1
A-Dressing Memories
Episode 2
Cakes for the Memories
Episode 3
Memnagerie
Episode 4
Deep Tissue Memories
Episode 5
Harvesting Memories
Episode 6
Memories and More
Pony Life
Season one
Episode 1
Princess Probz
Episode 2
The Best of the Worst
Episode 3
How Applejack Got Her Hat Back
Episode 4
Cute-pocalypse Meow
Episode 5
Bad Thing No. 3
Episode 6
Pinkie Pie: Hyper-Helper
Episode 7
The Trail Less Trotten
Death of a Sales-Pony
Episode 8
Bighoof Walking
The Fluttershy Effect
Episode 9
The Fast and the Furriest
Disappearing Act
Episode 10
Badge of Shame
Discord's Peak
Episode 11
A Camping We Will Go
Campfire Stories
Episode 12
Friendship Gems
Dol-FIN-ale
Episode 13
Potion Mystery
Sick Day
Episode 14
Meet Potion Nova!
Pony Surfin' Safari
Episode 15
All Bottled Up
All That Jitters
Episode 16
I, Cookie
Keynote Pie
Episode 17
Ponies of the Moment
One Click Wonder
Episode 18
Zound Off
Unboxing Day
Episode 19
Don't Look a GIF Horse in the Mouth
The Root of It
Episode 20
The Mysterious Voice
The 5 Habits of Highly Effective Ponies
Episode 21
Game Knight
Director Spike's Mockumentary
Episode 22
Whoof-dunnit
Dear Tabby
Episode 23
Pie vs. Pie
Superb Six
Episode 24
The Debut Taunt
Flutterdash
Episode 25
The Rarity Report
The Great Divide
Episode 26
The Great Collide
Sportacular Spectacular Musical Musak-ular
Season two
Episode 1
Cute Impact
The Crystal Capturing Contraption
Episode 2
The Comet Section
Cotton Candy-Colored Glasses
Episode 3
Close Encounters of the Balloon Kind
The Tiara of Truth
Episode 4
Terrorarium
Bubble Trouble
Episode 5
Time After Time Capsule
The Great Cowgirl Hat Robbery
Episode 6
Planet of the Apps
Back to the Present
Episode 7
Magical Mare-story Tour
Life of Pie
Episode 8
The Rarest of Occasions
Portal Combat
Episode 9
What Goes Updo
Communication Shakedown
Episode 10
Lolly-Pop
Little Miss Fortune
Episode 11
Playwright or Wrong
The Shows Must Go On
Episode 12
The De-Stress Ball
Mad Props
Episode 13
Magic is Ahoof
Journey to the Center of the 'Cord
Episode 14
One Last Wish
Wild Heart Beats
Make Your Mark
Episode 1
Izzy Does It
Episode 2
Growing Pains
Episode 3
Portrait of a Princess
Episode 4
Ali-Conned
Episode 5
The Cutie Mark Mix-Up
Episode 6
The Traditional Unicorn Sleep-Over
Episode 7
Hoof Done It?
Episode 8
Have You Seen This Dragon?
Episode 9
Top Remodel
Episode 10
The Jinxie Games
Episode 11
Sunny Side Up
Episode 12
The Manesquerade Ball
Episode 13
A Little Horse
Episode 14
Missing the Mark
Episode 15
Cutie Blossom Bash
Episode 16
Family Trees Pt. 1
Episode 17
Family Trees Pt. 2
Episode 18
Father of the Bridlewood
Episode 19
Mane Smelody
Episode 20
Nightmare on Mane Street
Episode 21
The Isle of Scaly‎‎
Episode 22
Roots of All Evil Pt. 1‎
Episode 23
Roots of All Evil Pt. 2
Feature films
Equestria Girls Rainbow Rocks Friendship Games Legend of Everfree
My Little Pony The Movie A New Generation
Specials
Dance Magic Movie Magic Mirror Magic Forgotten Friendship
Spring Breakdown
Rollercoaster of Friendship Best Gift Ever Spring Breakdown Rainbow Roadtrip
Sunset's Backstage Pass Holidays Unwrapped Make Your Mark Winter Wishday
Bridlewoodstock Secrets of Starlight
Animated shorts
Rainbow Rocks shorts Friendship Games shorts Summertime Shorts Equestria Girls: Better Together (season 1)
Equestria Girls: Better Together (season 2) Equestria Girls: Choose Your Own Ending (season 1) Equestria Girls: Choose Your Own Ending (season 2) Equestria Girls Minis
Baby Flurry Heart's Heartfelt Scrapbook Rarity's Peek Behind the Boutique Fundamentals of Magic My Little Pony Established 1983
Friendship is Magic shorts Hello Pinkie Pie Stop Motion Shorts Tell Your Tale (season 1)
Tell Your Tale (season 2)