Where did the yearly festival Christmas in July originate? And does anyone really celebrate it–besides businesses, I mean?
I have no idea if we started it but Christmas in July is becoming increasingly popular in Australia as it is just too hot to have the traditional English Christmas dinner in December. It is all about the food and roaring open fires. Even better if you can find some place with snow.
There is nothing quite like watching signpainters in shorts and singlets painting snowflakes on every shop window in midsummer but we inherited the idea of a white Christmas being a right Christmas. To move part of the traditions to a more suitable time climatically makes sense. Unfortunately many people still bring flaming plum puddings to the table on December 25.
It makes no sense to have it in the Northern Hemisphere!
I have no idea where it originated from, but I have a couple neighbors who celebate Christmas in July. They put the tree up and the lights. I also used to work at a Afterschool Club for kids and they celebrated it too.
Dunno if it originated there or not, but it’s a plot device in the Broadway musical Mame. The gist is that the main characters are going broke fast (if they’re not already there), and to take their minds off it they decide to throw Christmas. No matter that it’s July…
“Oh yes we need a little Christmas…”