Janet CollinsDo they have “Christmas in July” in the northern hemisphere?
July 6th 2009 05:59
For want of any better theme for a party in the Winter months, Australia often uses a “Christmas in July” theme to give a little bit of spark to a winter occasion.
I don’t quite know when they first started up but these “Christmas in July” celebrations have grown in popularity over the years. The whole purpose of course is to assimilate a Christmas celebration that the northern hemisphere has but more likely it is just another idea for a party to spark up winter. After all, there are so many places in the northern hemisphere that don’t actually snow in the winter time.
I can remember working with someone from Scotland many years ago, pre-Christmas in July days. At Christmas time she once said how funny it was that we had Christmas cards with snow and snowmen. I agreed, thinking that it was really interesting that Australians yearned for the “White Christmas” they all enjoyed in the north.
Even in July and August, most of Australia doesn’t see snow. The same goes for many of the cities in the northern hemisphere in their winter season. In London, it very rarely snows and if it does it turns to ice pretty quickly. So why is it that we automatically associate Christmas, Santa, snow and snowmen?
Probably most of it comes from the movies we watch from America. You know the ones. It is Christmas time. There is lots of snow (probably New York) and everyone seems to do their shopping on Christmas Eve and it all looks pretty romantic. That’s probably more the point. It’s an idea that we have created about Christmas but is real for very few. It seems a good idea though.
Many years ago a trend started here on Christmas Day in Sydney that has grown and grown. It is particularly popular with backpackers from everywhere but is really popular among the ones from Scotland, England and Ireland. It is Christmas Day on Bondi Beach. The beach is packed every Christmas Day and most who go there have fish and chips and enjoy the day with so many others who are away from their families at this time.
It makes me wonder – do they have Christmas in July parties in the northern hemisphere and spend the day on the beach? I mean, surely our way of spending Christmas – maybe not on the beach but the food is more salads and cold meats rather than winter fare. After all, they don’t have sole rights to Christmas Day and how to celebrate it.
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Comment by Chris Champion
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Funnily enough, I'm involved in a Christmas in July lunch this year, which is my first, and I'd never heard of it before. When I was younger though, I remember an uncle, an expatriate Brit, who liked to celebrate a southern hemisphere winer solstice Christmas. The winer solstice is (without looking it up to check) on June 21.
Comment by Janet Collins
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I think the Christmas in July is because July is often colder and feels more like winter. I often see Christmas in July functions advertised - just another excuse for a party and to get people out in the winter I think.
Thanks.
Comment by Chris Champion
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I'll drink to that
Comment by Lara M
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I found 'Christmas in July' an *interesting concept* but I've embraced it wholeheartedly -- perhaps it's the party excuse... ...but of course it does seem more apt with the cold weather (than in Summer)
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Comment by Josh Pimental
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Comment by Janet Collins
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Thanks for dropping by.
Comment by Dianna G
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Last year there was snow... and really, I like celebrating Christmas by rolling around in the snow and hiding from my relatives who are WAY too cheerful for their own good about Christmas-personally it's a bitter time of year for me.
And salads are good, but I would never ever give up my mashed potatoes for Christmas.
~Dianna
Comment by Janet Collins
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It's always funny for someone living in Australia to constantly see movies set at Christmas time where it snows. It always looks really romantic but there are plenty of countries in the southern hemisphere that celebrate Christmas at summer time.
And the English, particularly, love hanging around on Bondi Beach in Sydney on Christmas Day - very different way to spend it for them.
Thank you for dropping by.
Comment by Dianna G
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Actually, a lot of people here hate snow. I think it's because Canada has lots of people that immigrate from warm countries. Personally I love it. But I'm the exception to the rule-I get sunstroke very easily and overheat easily as well.
~Dianna
Comment by Janet Collins
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I love the snow for one reason only. Once a year for one week I take off to the snow with a group of mates to ski and I love it.
I can understand that it would be a lot of work in everyday life and it's this hard work that everybody probably hates.
Thanks again.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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Comment by Janet Collins
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I think it is one of those "themes" that just seems easy to party organisers. Not a lot to it really.