8 Ideas on How You Can Celebrate Christmas in July

Do You Celebrate Christmas in July?

For many of us, July is one of the hottest months of the year.  Why would we celebrate Christmas when heat indexes soar to the upper 90's or higher?  

The answer is simple--we LOVE Christmas!

Twelve months between celebrations is just too long.  Christmas in July is our booster shot of holiday cheer that keeps our hearts merry and bright for five more months.

In the comment section below, share what you do to celebrate Christmas in July.  If you've never recognized or participated in this pseudo holiday, we'll give you some ideas to plan your first ever Christmas in July.


1.  Christmas in July Countdown

If you still have kids at home, Christmas in July brings extra excitement to their summer vacation. 

Do you have an advent calendar stashed away among your boxes of decorations?  Dig it out and let your kids track the countdown to July 25.  Since we celebrate this event each year, we never put our advent calendar in storage, but leave it in a closet where it's easily accessible.  Even though our kids are older, our all-time favorite countdown calendar is the classic one from Melissa & Doug.

Place the countdown calendar in your family room and have each child take a turn affixing the day's ornament to the tree.  Just be sure to remember whose turn it is or there will be bickering!  

Using an advent calendar also provides an opportunity to remind your family why you hold Christmas joy in your hearts all year, and why there even is a Christmas holiday to celebrate.  Jesus is the reason!

Pinterest has many ideas for random acts of kindness to do during an advent countdown you can incorporate into your own.  Pay it forward at the drive-thru, weed a neighbor's flower bed, do a chore for a grandparent, or write a nice letter to a friend or relative far away.

Although Christmas gives us warm fuzzies, it shouldn't be overly self-serving.  See what good deeds your family can do to be a blessing to others.



2.  Food Brings People Together

You can recapture the smells and tastes of Christmas, even in July!  Pull out your favorite cookie and candy recipes and do some holiday baking.  Share your creations with your neighbors and co-workers and let them know you are bringing Christmas cheer into their summers.  Sure, they might think you're a little crazy, but they will recognize that it's the good and fun kind of crazy. Don't forget to make Chex Party Mix!

Many families try to connect with each other over the July 4th holiday, but with vacation schedules, that's not always possible.  What would it look like if you planned a Christmas in July family meal?  You might have a chance to squeeze in an extra visit that normally comes only once each year.  If you have the type of family you'd rather avoid, just keep it small and include only your immediate family.

Every July 25, we cover our dining room table with our vinyl Christmas tablecloth and cook a traditional holiday meal with all the trimmings and invite our family to join us.  

If you don't have time for that much cooking, cover your outdoor picnic table with a Christmas cloth and fire up the grill.  The key is planning ahead.  We always buy plenty of Christmas paper plates and napkins in December and stash them until July.  You might even consider wrapping Christmas lights around your patio or deck railing.



3.  Should You Decorate?

Some people actually decorate their homes for Christmas in July, complete with the tree.  Decorating is a huge and time-consuming task, especially when you consider you'll have to do it again in another 4-5 months.  

We don't bother and have just as much fun.  A tabletop tree is easily do-able, but decorating for Christmas in July is completely optional.

4.  Visit Attractions That Celebrate Christmas in July

If you don't know anyone else celebrating Christmas in July, you might feel like an odd ball.  Check out whether any businesses in your area have latched on to this event.  Visiting these attractions with your family will help you feel more normal.

Kentucky's Newport Aquarium is near us, and they feature Santa swimming in the tanks with the ocean life for Christmas in July. A short drive from us is EnterTRAINment Junction, the world's largest indoor railroad display, and they feature special Christmas rooms, beautifully decorated Christmas trees, elves, cookies in Mrs. Claus's kitchen, and chance to have your photo taken with Santa.

A display at EnterTRAINment Junction

Many car dealerships are unloading inventory in July to make room for the next year's models, so maybe you can find a great deal on a new vehicle for your family during one of their Christmas in July sales.  Merry Christmas to you, from you!

5.  Music, Movies, Books, & Social Media

It's okay to listen to Christmas music in July no matter what anyone tells you to the contrary.  When you're playing it at home or in the car though, just make sure your windows are tightly closed and the air conditioner is on.  If a summer breeze sends Jingle Bells or Frosty the Snowman wafting to your neighbors, they might question your sanity.

What are your favorite Christmas movies? Hopefully, you own them on DVD or saved them on your DVR from last December.  Plan a family movie night and enjoy a Christmas flick.

Hallmark Channel understands the need for doses of holiday cheer all year.  Not only do they play Christmas movies once per week year-round, they celebrate Merry Movie Week in June on the Movies & Mysteries channel, and brings us a full month of holiday movies for their Christmas in July extravaganza.  

Great American Family is a newer network with a smaller catalog of Christmas movies, but they, too, are offering Christmas movies all month long in July.

Hallmark's Candance Cameron Bure with "Santa."  Getty Images

When Hallmark or Great American Family airs A Very Happy Yule Log, I record a few hours of it to save on the DVR.  This show plays classic Christmas music, showcases a beautiful Christmas tree and fireplace, and adorable animals meander in and out of the scene.  During our Christmas in July family meal, we replay this in the background, and it creates super cozy ambiance.  

Image:  Crown Media 

No matter how hot the July day is, you can let your mind travel to colder places through books celebrating the Christmas season!

Facebook is loaded with Christmas groups that keep the spirit alive all year, so join a few.  Your daily feed will make you feel warm and cozy.

If you are a Hallmark Christmas fanatic, a fun Facebook group to join that has trivia, fun facts, polls, and giveaways is Hallmark Movies-Christmas Magic.  It's a thriving group with something for everyone.

6.  Reindeer Games

There are so many fun Christmas games you can play if you have kids still at home, especially if you already own Christmas-themed games like monopoly, memory, Old Santa, Christmas bingo, or Rudolph Operation.  Don't have any seasonal board games?  No worries!  Pinterest has great ideas for Christmas games you can create yourself:

  • Jingle Bell Toss:  line up cups and toss jingle bells into them.
  • Charades:  print cue cards and act out each Christmasy phrase.
  • Hide the Ornament:  play "hot" or "cold" to find an ornament you've hidden in the house.
  • Mystery Stocking:  place household items in a stocking and take turns touching one of the items to guess what it is.
  • Hot Present:  wrap a box and pass it in a circle until a time goes off, like "hot potato."
  • Pin the carrot nose on the snowman
The possibilities are endless!


Putting together a Christmas puzzle is also fun, especially on rainy days leading up to Christmas in July.


7.  Get Crafty

Do you make homemade Christmas gifts?  Are you a scrap booker who loves creating your own Christmas cards?  Rather than stress yourself out with tight holiday deadlines, start your projects during Christmas in July.  You'll have more time to enjoy the actual season when it rolls around.

Kids love crafts!  There are limitless Christmas crafts they can do in July.  Search Pinterest for Christmas crafts for kids, and you will find a ton of options.  Here are a few of our favorites:



For smaller children, it's also a blast to make your own Christmas play-doh, especially Snow Dough.  You can add food coloring and other scents to homemade play-doh for smells of the season:  pumpkin, peppermint, and cinnamon.

We always stock up on pre-packaged Christmas crafts from stores like Michael's and Hobby Lobby, especially when they are on clearance, and pull them out during our Christmas in July celebration.  For older kids, the Makit & Bakit ornaments are really fun, though a bit challenging.


8.  Time for Presents

By July 25, school is just around the corner, vacations are mostly over, and kids have done everything they can think to do during summer break.  It's the perfect time for something new to occupy them a little longer.

To make things a little more magical at our house, the "elves" leave little trinkets by our Melissa & Doug Advent tree sporadically between July 1-24.  The ages of your kids dictate the type of small tokens you select.  Again, once you're in the groove of having a summer celebration, you will start eyeing those Christmas clearance items a little closer to find small treasures for this occasion. 

On Christmas in July morning, our kids run to our little advent calendar tree for their final gift--something bigger than the previous trinkets, but under $30.  

We avoid gifts that are screen related, like video and computer games, DVDs, or anything gadgetry.  We choose gifts that inspire creativity or help them be active.

Considering it's summer, here are some fun gift ideas to keep your kids busy outdoors:

Gifts that spark creativity or engage their minds include:

Mindware.com is an excellent site for brainy toys for kids of all ages.  


How Did Christmas in July Get Started?

Christmas in July originated in 1933 at a girls' camp in North Carolina called Keystone Camp.  It was a whimsical idea created by camp co-founder, Fannie Holt.  It became a tradition that carries on to the present day at the camp. The concept continues to spread.  We're just glad someone thought of it!

Plan Ahead for Christmas in July

When you're caught up in the merriment of December, July feels light years away.  Remember to snag extra supplies when the stores are loaded and hold them until summer to make Christmas in July more festive.

Remember to leave a few holiday favorites on your DVR, too.

If you plan to use any of your decorations for your July plans, be sure to leave them in an easy-to-reach place.

Christmas in July isn't a real holiday.  Reflecting on the reason we celebrate, spreading extra cheer and goodwill, and creating fun summer memories with your family are good reasons to include it in your July plans anyway.

Merry Christmas in July!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

4 Reasons Why Hallmark Movies Aren't As Good As They Used To Be

Image
Oldies, But Goodies Hallmark is best known for its escapism entertainment where fans can find a happy place to lose themselves in a stress-free love story that always ends happily. While Hallmark movies attract viewers from all walks of life, it has particularly been a haven for Christians and conservatives who flocked to the network to avoid the vile and secular programming that saturates the majority of networks. When the pandemic struck the entire world in 2020, even more people gravitated to Hallmark movies while they were stuck at home, drawing comfort from them like a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup.  Images:  Crown Media Despite gorging on an inordinate amount of these Hallmark movies (they are addictive!), there is a growing rumble of discontent among fans.  Conversations within the realm of social media reveals Hallmarkies prefer the older movies over the majority of newer releases.  This is admitted in hushed tones because Hallmark fans are a dedicated and loyal group,
Read more

Tips for Keeping the Neighbor Kids Out of Your Yard

Image
Some Parents Are Idiots The days are warmer, and everyone is spending more time outdoors.  That includes the neighbor kids, who may have developed the bad habit of extending their boundaries into your yard and personal space. The real culprits here are the parents.  Common sense should guide parents to remind their kids where the invisible boundaries are between houses, but this overly narcissistic generation shows little regard for anyone but themselves. If you try to be pleasant and cordial with your neighbors for the sake of getting along, this may be misconstrued as a welcome invitation to invade your personal space at will. A "kid person" loves interacting with the neighborhood children and doesn't regard them dotting the lawn as an invasive species. Others are only "kid people" with their own kids and don't appreciate uninvited company. Thoughtless parents with no respect of your privacy or personal property put you in a pickle.  They
Read more

How to Dry Your Own Corn Stalks for Fall Decorating in 4 Easy Steps (with Pictures)

Image
Drying Corn Stalks Is Easier Than You Might Think Last year, I spied corn stalks for sale at our local Home Depot and Lowes stores and wanted to buy some for our Fall decorating, but sticker shock deterred me.  Each small bundle cost nearly $25!   Amazon, which typically offers better pricing, is selling bundles of 12 this year for $52.99.  Considering these bundles will either be composted or sent to the landfill at the end of the season, only people with money to burn would consider investing in such pricey lawn décor. The best solution is to dry your own corn stalks.  If you grew corn in your garden over the summer, it won't cost you a dime, and you'll be harvesting every bit of your crop. We tied our dried corn stalks to tomato stakes to help them stand in our display. Step One:  Harvest the Corn & Cut Each Stalk Once you have picked all the corn your garden has produced, waiting for stalks to dry out on their own will take too long.    You will need a tool to make a c
Read more

The Grinch's Best "Who Hash" Recipe

Image
A "Feast" Your Family Will Love No holiday season is complete without the annual viewing of How the Grinch Stole Christmas .  It's a delightful, transformative tale about finding and sharing in the Christmas spirit. Before the Grinch's heart grows three sizes, he hates that the Whos feast, feast, feast on Who-pudding and Who-roast beast--a feast he can't stand in the least!  As a result, he steals all the food in each house along with every vestige of Christmas. He cleaned out that icebox as quick as a flash. Why, that Grinch even took their last can of Who-hash! If your kids are picky eaters who hesitate to touch their plates with a thirty-nine-and-a-half-foot pole, you will have no trouble enticing them with this comforting and Christmas-y recipe.  Plus, it's much tastier than a three-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich with arsenic sauce! What Is "Hash?" Hash refers to a dish consisting of seasoned diced meat, potatoes, and vegetables that
Read more

Should Students Be Required to Wear Masks to School in the Fall?

Image
State Departments of Education Drafting Fall Protocols for Schools When school resumes in the Fall, do you want your kids wearing masks all day in class? If you answered "yes," this post is not for you.  Move on.  This post is for patriots who understand the mandating of masks is a tyrannical move that violates our freedom. Many state departments of education are in the process of drafting return-to-school protocols, where mandatory mask-wearing will be required for teachers, faculty, and students.  Since nothing is written in stone, especially as we wait to see how re-opening the country will unfold, now is the time to speak up in protest. This is so wrong!  (Getty Images) Here's How You Can Take Action Against Mandatory Student Mask-Wearing There are a few things you can do to make your voice heard: Local districts may be granted flexibility from your state, so contact your superintendents and school board members .  Simply Google "(Name of Sch
Read more

Five Reasons You Should Delete Friends on Facebook

Image
Reasons People Join Facebook Why did you originally join Facebook? Theoretically, Facebook provides a platform to remain in contact with friends and family both far and near. You always know what your besties are doing. You keep up-to-date on family news. You watch where life takes your old classmates. You stay connected to co-workers, even if you change jobs. If you move away from your hometown, you can still stay in touch with the people you've known all your life. When you share your own news, you have a large support network to cheer you on. In reality, Facebook is the Diet Coke of social engagement.  You can have 3,000 friends but remain completely isolated.  People might comment on your posts, but most forget all about you once they hit like .  In this sense, Facebook is really unsocial media. You have a core group of friends and family who use Facebook to stay close to you, but they are a small percentage of your total friend count.  The ones who truly care about you deserv
Read more

How To Make Old-Fashioned Wilted Lettuce Like Grandma's

Image
The Secret Ingredient In Wilted Lettuce Back in grandma's day, culinary delights were made with heart-stopping lard rather than butter.  Maybe you've never heard of lard, but it comes from pig fat, and as gross as that sounds, makes the best biscuits and flaky pie crusts you've ever eaten. In the era of big gardens where families saved money on meals by freezing and canning their own homegrown produce, wilted lettuce during the growing season was a special treat at dinner.   Wilted lettuce is a summertime specialty. Simmering wilted lettuce dressing on the stovetop fills the kitchen with a pungent, mouth-watering aroma.  It takes me back to my own childhood when I'd come in from playing and find mom busy preparing some for dinner.   What makes this old-fashioned recipe so delicious?  The secret ingredient to wilted lettuce is bacon grease .  Before you slap your hands to your face in horror, let me remind you that paradoxically in our ultra, health-conscious generation
Read more

Review of Corinthian Bells Wind Chimes from Wind River: The Best Sounding Wind Chimes You Can Buy!

Image
There are two opinions when it comes to wind chimes:  you either love or hate the sound of them dancing across the breeze. Some people prefer the pure melodies of nature, like a chorus of chirping birds, wind rustling through the trees, or water trickling over rocks in a nearby brook.  To such, wind chimes are a clamorous intrusion upon tranquility. For others, wind chimes are the perfect accompaniment to nature's symphony.  No relaxation CD can compare.  Perhaps the reason for the opposing viewpoints on wind chimes really centers on sound quality--not all wind chimes are created equal. Corinthian Bells Wind Chimes from Wind River Are Superior in Quality and Made in the USA! You get what you pay for is cliché, but it holds true when it comes to purchasing the perfect set of wind chimes. You can find wind chimes anywhere:  garden centers, hardware stores, home improvement retailers, the grocery, and online, and they come in a wide spectrum of price points. When testing wind chimes,
Read more

Are You Carving a Pumpkin This Year?

Image
Image courtesy of Jiap at FreeDigitalPhotos.net If your kids are grown, chances are your pumpkin carving days are over.  You've passed the ceremonial carving kit to the next generation. Maybe your kids are old enough to start carving their own pumpkins so you can at least be done with scooping goop. If your kids are small, you're still stuck with the job. Choosing the Perfect Pumpkin Where do you go to choose your perfect pumpkin? Some take seasonal hay rides that stop by a pumpkin patch brimming with pumpkins of all sizes, colors, shapes, and textures.  Smoother surfaces are ideal for pumpkin painting, but bumpy pumpkins are loaded with character.     Other families visit a local farmer's market to peruse the pumpkin harvest options. Avid gardeners might grow their own pumpkins. Of course, grocery stores and home improvement places like Home Depot carry an ample stock, and it's very convenient to swing in and snag one to save time. Sel
Read more