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It’s a Christmas in July Celebration

It’s hot, you’re sweaty and longing for some relief from the heat. Aren’t you? And while thinking about winter, you’re probably also dreaming of all those snowy nights of Christmas celebrations? Well, you can’t actually change the season now, but the closest you can get to doing so is reduce the time left for Christmas and celebrate it now, in July. That’s what many are doing year after year. An unofficial holiday, Christmas in July imitates the festivities of the actual Christmas and signifies our yearning for the coolness of winter amid the scorching summer months.

 

If you’re looking for an excuse to throw a party, a Christmas in July event might be just the thing.  When the hot and humid days of summer start to feel suffocating, as they have been doing, some people feel re-energized by throwing a ‘Christmas in July’ party. Pull out your Christmas china and serve chilling, cold foods for a fun way to forget about the heat outside. Many like to start their holiday shopping early and throw a party to get in the mood. Others choose a particular charity and throw a ‘Christmas in July’ party as a way to raise much-needed funds. And some simply like the party idea, along with the cool and refreshing foods, as a way to take their minds off the heat. Whatever your reason, just keep your guests cool with refreshing beverages and ice-cold desserts.

 

Do you have any idea when Christmas in July celebrations started popping up or how the tradition started? Here are some interesting facts or myths about this fun celebration.

Christmas in July can occur at any time during the month of July. Many choose to celebrate the holiday on July 25.

The tradition of celebrating Christmas in July probably began during the 1980s.

Many Australian families have a traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings in July.

In Australia, “Christmas in July” is also known as “Yulefest”.

Some believe the “Christmas in July” celebration originated in Australia in July, 1980 when a group of Irish tourists had the proprietor of a hotel in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales to hold a party called “Yulefest”.

The television shopping networks QVC and Home Shopping Network have shows titled “Christmas in July”.

At the Bakken amusement park in Klampenborg, Denmark, Christmas is celebrated in July for three days and witnesses the annual World Santa Claus Congress, attended by Santa Clauses from all over the world, accompanied by their wives and the elves.
Many countries such as Australia experiences warm to hot weather on December 25 and July is their coldest month.

But, there is another story tells where Christmas in July originated.  Some say it originated in at Keystone Girl’s Camp in Brevard, North Carolina 84 years ago, where it was first celebrated on July 24th and 25th, 1933.

The first Christmas in July included carolers, a Christmas Tree, Santa Claus, presents, and fake snow made of cotton. As the tradition evolved, campers would use laundry bags as makeshift stockings, which they placed outside their cabins to be filled with candy overnight. Eventually, elves, reindeer, and Mrs. Claus joined the act, along with a camp-wide gift exchange, counselors included.  Paige Ives Lemel, who is the fourth generation in her family to hold the title of director, said the gifts were crafty and creative. “One time my dad got a bejeweled toilet plunger decorated with feathers and glitter,” she said in the interview.

The tradition carries on today, and blistering-hot southern summers have yet to stop the camp’s tradition—now they simply go for a dip in the lake post-presents.

However you design your Christmas in July celebration, this is a great time to get together with friends, start your shopping early to avoid all the craziness, share some laughs and instill some new traditions.  There are also some wonderful charities that would love to have your support.