Holiday dragons are a very mysterious breed. They are only seen during winter, and even then it is hard to catch a glimpse of one. They are responsible for the general cheer that spreads during the holidays. In essence, they are the “Spirits of Winter.”

Dragons are highly-intelligent reptilian creatures that—from a human perspective, at least—appear to live forever. Many different varieties of dragon exist, each with their own unique qualities, habitats, and behavior. Adolescence in dragons is usually marked by the growth of a hatchling’s wings, although not all breeds of dragons grow wings and some breeds have other traits that indicate the beginning of maturation. In Galsreim, dragons and humans coexist peacefully.

Possessing a Christmas dragon's scale is thought to give one good luck and is sign that one's family will prosper in the coming year. Joy Giftgiver knows that his scales hold no such magic- they are dragon scales just like any other- but the happiness he sees on a child's face when it is given one such token keeps his mouth shut, and he also seeks to see that face again, every Christmas.

Every night on Christmas Eve, Joy leaves on a short expedition from the Cave to the surrounding villages with a sack of his own shed scales strapped to his chest. He leaves one or two scales on the doorstep of each cottage he can get to before dawn breaks, and then sits back to admire his handiwork.