It may be the 4th of July here in the United States but for me, this month also means our annual Christmas summer celebration. In recent years, Christmas in July has grown in popularity. For me, it was a way to deal with the Covid lockdowns.
We began having this annual tradition during the height of the epidemic. Looking for a way to cheer up my family, I suggested we have a Christmas in July celebration. We enjoyed it so much we have been doing it ever since.
We usually celebrate this steamy day with a barbecue. We listen to Christmas music and watch a few of our favorite Christmas movies. We also exchange gifts. We don’t get exorbitant as we normally do in December. We keep it down to two gifts a piece and spend around $20-25.00 for each gift.
My husband and I are both Christmas fanatics. Our house is decorated from top to bottom. We begin to decorate on November 1st, as soon as the Halloween and fall decorations come down. We have so many lights glowing in our house. You could land a plane in the middle of it. We love Christmas so much. We’re two big kids at heart. We love the decorations and lights, the music and the movies. We love the special foods we get to eat and of course, we love the gift exchange. Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year and celebrating it in July is an enjoyable way to spend a hot and hazy summer day.
One of my favorite annual Christmas traditions is reading “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. I have started reading it in the summer now. It’s a wonderful, timeless story of second chances and redemption, perfect for any time of the year.
Having a Christmas in July party is simple and can be affordable. You can buy decorations at the dollar store and have a Christmas luau. Decorate with cardboard cut-outs of watermelons, pineapples, beach balls, starfish, etc. You can barbecue hamburgers and hot dogs or do something simple such as serve sandwiches and chips. Play your favorite Christmas carols as you eat. When the meal is over, the whole family can watch Christmas movies. Try something funny such as “Christmas Vacation”, whimsical like “Elf” or a classic like “March of the Wooden Soldiers”. Make frosty red and green drinks and serve a special dessert. And don’t forget the gifts. Keep it casual and if money is tight, the dollar store has great gifts for anyone at any time of the year. My favorite gifts to receive are books and crafting items. You can always make handmade gifts too. Pinterest has a lot of ideas for Christmas recipes, gifts, decor, etc. It’s a great resource.
It’s about fun and having a good time with your loved ones. It’s what you decide to make of it. For us, it became a small act of joy to deal with during the uncertainty of the epidemic. Now it’s something we look forward to every year. In whatever way you decide to celebrate…Merry Christmas in July!
Love this--- so fun and inspiring! I love what this represents for you and the joy it brings to your life.