Christmas in July is another fun occasion that is almost synonymous with the Christmas holiday and is usually held during summer. Given the fact that people arranged a winter holiday in the midst of summer you may note that this tradition has its ground in history and popular culture. It has consequently developed as a special moment characterized by different celebrations, gifting, sending photo cards for Christmas, get together, and other social activities. In this article, we will discuss the history and evolution of this summer event mainly celebrated on 25th July of every year.
Origins of Christmas in July
Basically, Christmas in July can be traced to various sources which include as we will discuss here. Research regarding the July 25th Celebration can be traced back to resent celebration events, as shown by a reference from a camp conducted in North Carolina, USA in 1933. This camp for girls was indeed merry with ideas borrowed from the Christmas holidays, an imitation tree, presents, and even a contrived non-plussed Santa Claus. This event was specifically intended in giving the campers a feel of what Christmas is like during their stay at the camp. In simple terms, this occasion developed as an event to exchange gifts, sending holiday cards with photos, sing carols and mark the end of the season in an unconventional way. Over the time, the generations of campers grew up and began to enjoy this annual tradition.
Nevertheless, it can be assumed that the idea originated earlier than this particular occurrence. Opera and popular culture participated in the diffusion of the concept of Christmas in July as early as 1892: a French opera depicted characters celebrating Christmas in July. In the same manner, from the above research it could also be deduced that Australian culture was instrumental in the celebration of Christmas in July. December is summer in Australia as it is located in the Southern Hemisphere hence some Australians have taken to holding a second jingle all the way in July when the weather is much colder and reminiscent of winter back in the Northern Hemisphere. However, its important to note that the Christmas in July is not an official holiday in Australia. The officials term this celebration as a cultural tradition and a unique way to enjoy the festive spirit during the Australian Winter.
Christmas in July Popularization
Celebrating Christmas in July became popular in the middle of the twentieth century specifically in regard to the United States. The same year of 1940 was a memorable year as the Hollywood movie named ‘Christmas In July’ directed by Preston Sturges gave fillip to this idea. The movie, while not directly tied into the event of the parades, ensured that the phrase became commonplace among people. After these occasions, many celebrities have been observing this special occasion every year. Retailers and businesses equally took these opportunities to come up with business promotions to increase sales. Since this time, the July 25th has been celebrated with Christmas themes in different parts of the world.
