Christmas in July Ideas
Do you love Christmas? Why wait for December? Host a festive Christmas in July celebration in the middle of the summer or have a super family fun night with these Christmas in July Ideas. Have some summer fun with a Christmas twist!
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FREE PRINTABLE CHRISTMAS IN JULY PARTY PLANNER: Scroll to the bottom of this post!
What is Christmas in July?
Christmas in July is an unofficial holiday. The term may have originated from the fact that in the southern hemisphere, Christmas is actually celebrated in the summer. People from that area celebrate Christmas in July, as that is the peak month of their winter season.
What is Christmas in July all about?
According to a legend, Christmas in July began as a celebration at a summer camp in 1933, when Keystone Camp in Brevard, N.C. decided to dedicate two days (July 24 and 25) to the holiday—complete with cotton fake snow, a decked-out tree, a gift exchange, and, of course, Santa. Southern Living shares the full story of Christmas in July here.
What is the reason for Christmas in July now?
Today, Christmas in July is still celebrated in the United States and some areas in Europe for a couple of reasons:
- It gives people a reason for an extra summer celebration
- The “holiday” is driven by retailers who need an excuse for a sale in the summer.
Christmas in July Menu Ideas
Hosting the perfect Christmas in July party could happen without the perfect Christmas menu. What to serve? Well, that is really up to you. You could go in a couple of different directions: Summer foods with Christmas twist like these Easy Grinch Fruit Kabobs, or you can go for the more traditional Christmas foods like this Christmas Turkey Stuffing.
No matter the direction you take, finish off your meal with these delicious Christmas in July Dessert Ideas. If you are not serving a full meal, you can also include these desserts as party finger foods!
Christmas in July ideas for kids
Christmas in July Games and Entertainment
Every party needs some entertainment. For your Christmas in July party you can play some traditional Christmas games like having a white elephant gift exchange or the traditional Jewish game of Dreidel. You can also amend some regular games to be Christmas themed.
Another idea is hosting a Christmas in July Movie night. Those are super easy with Halmark’s Christmas in July movies. You can find a whole list of ideas for hosting the a Christmas themed movie night here.
Christmas in July Craft Ideas
Keep the kids busy during the party with ugly sweater coloring pages or decorate using some fun Christmas in July crafts! Be sure to mix it up with more summery colors or put surf boards with your santas when you are creating these fun crafts!
If your Christmas in July party includes time in the pool, you might include some water bingo printables just for fun.
- Granny Square Crochet Christmas Stocking
- DIY Christmas Countdown
- Frosted Glass Tea Light Candle Holders
- Dollar Tree Mason Jar Ornaments
What to Wear to a Christmas in July Party
What you wear to a Christmas in July party really depends on the venue. Your party may be themed with ugly Christmas sweaters, but that clearly won’t work if the party is poolside. Be sure to determine your venue and clearly set out your theme before sending our your invitations.
Favorite Christmas in July T-Shirts
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Do you give gifts at a Christmas in July party?
Gift giving is not absolutely necessary at a Christmas in July party since it is really just a reason to celebrate Christmas style in the summer. However, if you would like to exchange gifts, some fun DIY gifts like this DIY Peppermint Sugar Scrub, this Chocolate Spoon Fudge in a Jar, or this DIY Body Powder would be absolutely perfect!
