The earliest reference for the phrase 'Christmas in July' was in July 1933 at a girl's summer camp in North Carolina USA. The term later gained momentum with the release of the Hollywood movie comedy 'Christmas in July' in 1940.
Then in 1942, the Calvary Baptist Church in the USA celebrated 'Christmas in July' featuring a sermon 'Christmas Presents in July' and a Christmas tree. By the end of the sermon, the tree was covered with donations and gifts from the congregation. The donations and gifts were then distributed to missions worldwide. By 1946 this annual service began to be broadcast over local radio.
Today many Churches across the world celebrate Christmas in July with services, fund raising and activities.
The Lakewood United Methodist Church hosted a Christmas in July public festival. They gave away snowcones, treated everyone to a free concert, gathered donations for the Gardner Food Pantry and helped Central Arkansas Rescue Effort (CARE).
"Christmas in July" festivities are said to have started here in Australia in July, 1980 when a group of Irish tourists asked the proprietor of a hotel in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales to hold a party called "Yulefest". Scandinavian languages translate the word "Christmas" as Jul (literally, Yule), which happens to be the abbreviation for July in English.
My Christmas in July party usually includes a few Christmas decorations (I don't put up my tree!), Christmas candles, bonbons, Christmas hats and small toys for the kids.
Images from BHG
I have had no problem finding yummy recipes to try, as one of my favourite Australian recipe sites has got a whole section devoted to Christmas in July! Have a look at some of these yummy recipes!
Despite the fact that Christmas in July has become very commercialized in many places, I think that it is an occasion to remember the spirit of Christmas, which, according to Washington Irving, is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart. It is also a fun way for people in the northern Hemisphere to satisfy a craving for cooler weather (I hear it is terribly hot over there at the moment!) and it is a fun way for us in the South to experience what a Northern Hemisphere Christmas would be like.
Best wishes for a wonderful weekend,
Natasha In Oz
I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
Charles Dickens
Natasha,
ReplyDeletePink is gorgeous for Christmas! I love your photos. I also love the song you choose. I love Amy Grant's Christmas music and have really worn one CD out! Sometimes I can be caught listening to it as early as October!LOL
Have a great weekend!
Sherry
All of the christmas images are absolutely gorgeous!! Christmas in July sounds like a darn good excuse for a dinner party to me. What a great tradition to develop! :) Hazel
ReplyDeleteI love the pink christmas decorations! and you can't go wrong with Amy Grant :)
ReplyDeleteI love your pinky Christmas in July....but i never heard about it !!
ReplyDeleteToday we have it very hot in Holland...34 degress..............much too hot for a Hollader!!!....happy time there.................enjoy....love Ria...
Beautiful photos and it sounds like a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteIt is special that you have created this wonderful tradition for your family and I agree in our climate it gives you a chance to enjoy some hot cristmas foods, those recipes sound so good, cheers Katherine
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I never knew where the phrase "Christmas in July" came from. Amy Grant does have a lovely voice too. :O)
ReplyDeletewonderful pictures! You gave me a great idea. We have Christmas at our house for my mom's side of the family every year (50t people), but they won't all fit in the new house. Maybe we'll change it to Xmas in July, because we'll all fit outside! Super idea!!
ReplyDeleteWe got to see Amy Grant in concert 2 yrs ago and loved her. Great pick for Sunday Song!
Hugs to you and your family!!
Wendy
We LOVE the Christmas season, don't we! Some inspiring, sweet pictures. Wish we had a little bit of Christmas temperature already, it's about 35 Celsius for more than a week now. Hmm, you are enjoying that temperature almost every season... Sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite, sweet Natasha! xxx
ReplyDeleteLove what you are doing and your pink Christmas in July decorations and menu look incredible! I love anything Amy Grant sings!! Thanks for sharing! Oh and Natasha thank you for the sweet comment you left me, nice of you to drop in!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
Nancy
Well I think that is a great idea to celebrate Christmas in July Down Under. Love your table setting and Chrissie decorations. I think the Amy Grant song is a great choice. Happy Sunday.
ReplyDeleteImagine that! In two different Countries but thinking the same at the same time! Pretty Awesome :)
ReplyDeleteWendy
Happy Christmas in July and I will be back tomorrow when it is Sunday in Italy to post my selection for this week.
ReplyDeleteHi Natasha,
ReplyDeleteI love that great Dicken's quote and your fun Christmas in July post! The pictures, recipes and story are all fabulous...ho! ho! ho! and have a great time with your family down-under there!
Sounds like a lot of fun to me...at that same time here in Utah we celebrate Pioneer Day...the day the first pioneers came onto the Salt Lake Valley..my g. grandpa being one of them. (I love the Amy Grant song!)
ReplyDeleteThis was a very refreshing post! Love the pink christmas stuff. Our town used to have a Christmas in July in the shops, but they don't seem to be doing it this year.
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas in July, Natasha!
ReplyDeleteI adored this post. It is beautiful, and I enjoyed seeing all the pink Christmas things.
Happy PS to you...
XO,
Sheila :-)
my sister/in/law is from Italy--she would probably enjoy the singer you mention.
ReplyDeleteI would like to hear the bells right now.. Definitely Christmas has not speacial time or season. Great article, Natasha!
ReplyDeleteThanks to darling Linda in bella Italia, advised me about your weekly event, so I am here. Welcome to hear my song?
Have a happy doremi fulfilled week ahead~
How beautiful!!!! You have inspired me to want a Christmas in July party too. It snowed here last month and now is above 98 degrees F ha!
ReplyDeleteHappy Pink Saturday. All your photos are just beautiful!
Sounds like a fun time...your menu sounds even better! Natasha, right now, I would give anything for a little cooler weather...how cool is your weather? Beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteI just adored this post as i LOVE Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I loved all of you Pinkalicious Christmas photos!!
Too pretty and PINK!!
HPS!!
Debbie
Love Christmas, one of my fav times of the year. Wouldn't mind having it two times. :) It's just so hot here, now. Love the food pics, now I'm hungry.
ReplyDeleteHow fun! What could be better than celebrating this amazing holiday twice?!
ReplyDeleteI adore all of the images you used...simply gorgeous!
Enjoy!
Cathy
In our church the Christmas in July theme is usually given to special charitable projects going on in July; and besides it is just fun, and it is never out of date to put emphsis on the birthday of the Christ.
ReplyDeleteHave a happy 25th.
Happy Pink Saturday and Sunday Song, Natasha.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a Christmas in July celebration. And, all of those gorgeous pinks would certainly put you in the mood. I'm listening to Amy Grant as I type.
It has been very hot here - highs near 100 degrees F. I believe that is about 38 degrees C.
Oh my - I knew there was a good reason I start thinking of singing Christmas songs in July :) I love old movies (my grandparents and senior parents got me hooked :) ), but I had never heard of this one. I'll have to ask my senior mom if she has.
ReplyDeleteAnd what a delightful treat to hear one of the many Christmas carols I so love. Thank you for a delightful visit and Merry Christmas Blessings In July. :)
Your pink christmas is gorgeous.. Simply loved all your curios.. Hope you had a great time with the family..
ReplyDeletethis is such a fabulous idea...i am thinking i might copy you...you don't mind do ya?
ReplyDeleteGo for it Christy! I bet you'll have a wonderful time.
ReplyDelete:)
Natasha
xo
What a great idea, Natasha! I could celebrate Christmas anytime because I love it so. I have that same quote on my Christmas blog!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are wonderful and I enjoyed Amy Grant's version of the song. A belated Happy Pink Saturday to you. Thanks for sharing such a lovely post.
Blessings,
Sandi
dear natasha,
ReplyDeletethis was an enchanting post that delighted
me through and through. i love the idea of
Christmas in july! my mother in law was in
a movie with dick powell, and says he was
adorable.
it's funny to read your post directly after
reading the prophecies in isaiah about
our Lord's first coming. about '5 minutes'
after. :)
i'm so happy to see how many people
linked up to your 'song party.' i'm going
to figure out how to do that.
blessings,
lea
ps. thank you for your sweet comments
about my ornery kids.
Christmas in July...I'd never heard of it, but it sounds like a nice idea, especially since it's the coldest month where you are. Your decorations look really pretty and the recipes sound delicious. I'm sure it'll be great. Have a lovely week, Love from London x
ReplyDeleteIve been considering having a Christmas in July party and I think you may have just persuaded me. Im especially loving that all the op shops have little Christmas displays at the moment, ive managed to pick up a few gorgeous vintage decorations.
ReplyDeleteI am in love with your pink christmas...has me thinking-- thanks for the nudge. Have a great week ahead,
ReplyDeleteCoryanne
http://www.housewifebliss.com
oh what a beautiful little world you have created for yourself and others to enjoy...Love your Christmas in July...Love a P*I*N*K celebration anytime, but this is just delicious...so happy to have stumbled upon your site will most definitely be back for another "cuppa" soon...smile on Rosie
ReplyDeleteYou were the second blog today that I read about Christmas in July. You are getting me too excited and I still have to finish summer with the kids. Your photos are lovely. Are the pink decorations yours? They are exquisite. The food looks great too. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteAll I've known of Christmas in July are shopping sales. I love the idea and your pink decorations just fit the summer time perfectly, even if it is not summer there...
ReplyDeleteDo you use red in Dec or the same?
Love different ideas and info.
Oh my dear...It has been a very short while, and already I am in need of a wee Natasha fix...I have leisurely strolled through some of your past posts, and have enjoyed myself immensely...so...without further adieu...I have placed your little button on my sidebar, so I won't miss even one more moment of the entertainment...have a lovely day...and smile on... Rosie
ReplyDeletepink is lovely for Chistmas! Here it's so hot and i'm dreaming about chistmas time...I posted my first video on my blog,come and see..kisses
ReplyDeleteThis is so amazing! Love the pink, what a great reminder of Christmas.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! Not too many do it here, sooo hot, hard to think Christmas! But I guess the people in Fla have heat in Dec too.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a wonderful celebration!
Hello Natasha...
ReplyDeleteMy friend, I just adore that you are celebrating Christmas in July! Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year but I must confess that I have never celebrated Christmas in July! I really enjoyed reading the history behind celebrating Christmas in July...so interesting! And...I love that so many are using this time as a way to help others! Now...I must tell you that I simply adore all of those gorgeous Christmas in July photos! Oooh...love all that pretty pink and it's perfect since it's just a wee step away from the traditional Christmas in December! Thank you so much for sharing your celebration with us...loved all of the recipe links! I'll have to check some of those out! What a wonderful post, my friend...thank you so much for sharing it with us today for Sunday Favorites...it truly was a treat! Just like Christmas in July!!!
I also wanted to thank you for the sweet note that you left for me...I sure enjoyed it!!!
Warmest wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design
Just love your post. In the US we are stuck in this steam bath cycle this year and I have been posting Christmas all last week and singing Winter Wonderland! I just love your decor!
ReplyDeleteNatasha, Great post! I've never celebrated Christmas in July, but I think 1) it'd be fun particularly if you have children at home; and 2) the spirit of Christmas is something we should celebrate every day.
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessings, Beth
Natasha,
ReplyDeleteI loved this post when I first saw it and I still am in love with it!!I just linked up to the Christmas in July Party. Please stop by to take a peek at my 12 Christmas trees!!
Debbie
Natasha, you are so gifted with your blogging!! This is a spectacular post. I love the soft pinks and whites and it would be a great tradition to start Christmas in July! I guess dinner on the 25th would be fitting. Just getting out fav lil collection and keeping it simple would be perfect.
ReplyDeleteOh, I just came across the "Christmas in July" post!
ReplyDeleteI just love your blog and will be signing up to follow!
Leticia
www.msbinglesvintagechristmas.com
Tudo lindo por aqui! Parabéns.
ReplyDeleteI'm from Brazil but I'm living in canada.
Beijos,
Lila
Thank you for opening a whole new world to me, beautiful song, and what about to celebrate every single day of life!
ReplyDelete