Many of us love the festive season so much that celebrating it once a year just isn't enough. In the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas in July provides a chance to enjoy a winter celebration we otherwise wouldn't have. It's a wonderful opportunity to gather with loved ones, embrace the chill, and enjoy all the trimmings of a festive occasion—from hearty meals and cosy decorations to the joy of exchanging gifts. To help you make the most of this special time, we've compiled our top 10 Christmas in July ideas to inspire your winter celebration.

10 Christmas in July Ideas

1. Serve an unforgettable feast

There’s never a bad excuse for a feast, and Christmas in July is a great way to bring loved ones together over a warm and nourishing meal. Where most Aussies do their Christmas meals over lunch to compliment the fresh summer produce, a Christmas in July feast can incorporate warmer meals to suit colder temperatures such as a roast or shepherd’s pie from Woolworths Supermarket, and festive drinks like mulled wine bought from BWS to accompany it all. Impress your friends and family with your home cooking skills and bring everyone together for a Christmas in July feast.

2. Give Christmas in July Gifts

Christmas in July gift is a great way to surprise a specific loved one, friend or colleague as they won’t suspect a Christmas gift coming their way! Our Prezzee Smart eGift Card lets them spend it their way with the choice to swap and shop from 400+ top brands.

3. Host a Christmas movie screening

Holiday movies are one of the most popular pastimes in the lead-up to Christmas. BINGE's huge collection of holiday films will fix your mid-year itch, with classics to new releases available. Alternatively, catch a non-Christmas film at Hoyts and treat yourself to a pre or post dinner snack with a Prezzee Foodie Gift Card.

4. Have a photoshoot in cute & ugly Christmas sweaters

Jumper season is here! Dust off your Christmas jumpers (the uglier the better) and get a group together for a festive photoshoot! Channel your inner Griswold by coordinating your Christmas in July jumpers or simply show off everyone’s unique ugly sweater op-shop finds. If you’re really feeling in the spirit, you can even choose to hold a Christmas in July jumper crafting session to amp up your festive outfits. Perfect for the kids or kids at heart, lay out crafting supplies from Spotlight or Officeworks like a hot glue gun, coloured pom poms, glitter glue and pipe cleaners and let everyone’s creativity run wild. May the most hideous Christmas sweater win!

5. Hold a Christmas in July karaoke night

Few things make us feel more in the festive spirit than Christmas carols. Whether it’s a smooth Michael Bublé cover or an 80s pop classic (Wham! anyone?), everyone has at least one Christmas song that they go back to every year. With this in mind, a Christmas in July karaoke night is sure to be a hit with every member of the family or friendship group! You don’t need a fancy setup, just a simple mic (battery powered works fine) and a Spotify playlist.

6. Host a Christmas Punch Party

Host a Christmas punch party with festive drinks like mulled wine or eggnog to get everyone in the holiday spirit. Set the mood with holiday music, twinkling lights, and cosy decorations. Buy all the ingredients and festive beverages from BWS and prepare a large bowl of punch with seasonal fruits.

7. Travel to a Winter Wonderland for Christmas in July

If you're looking for an adventurous way to celebrate, consider travelling to a winter wonderland for a snow trip. Imagine spending the day skiing, snowboarding, or building snowmen, followed by evenings by the fireplace in a cosy cabin. Don’t forget to pack your winter gear and some holiday-themed games or movies to enjoy during your stay, making the trip even more festive and fun.

8. Secret Santa

A Secret Santa gift exchange adds an element of surprise and fun to your Christmas in July celebration. Gather your friends, family, or colleagues and draw names to determine who will buy a gift for whom. Set a budget to ensure everyone participates equally. Each participant buys a thoughtful gift for their chosen person, making the event exciting and unpredictable. To add more fun, you can have everyone guess who their Secret Santa is after the gifts are opened. This activity not only spreads joy but also strengthens bonds among participants.

9. Christmas Baking

Get into the festive baking spirit with Christmas cookies, gingerbread houses, and other holiday treats. find all your baking ingredients at Coles and gather your family or friends for a baking session, using festive cookie cutters, colourful icing, and sprinkles to create delicious and beautiful holiday treats.

10. Christmas Arts and Crafts

Engage in some creative fun with Christmas arts and crafts. Set up a crafting station with supplies like coloured paper, glue, glitter, ribbons, and more. Whether you're making ornaments, holiday cards, or festive decorations, crafting allows everyone to express their creativity and make personalised holiday items. Get all the necessary supplies from Kmart to bring your crafty ideas to life. Host a crafting party with friends or family, and at the end of the session, exchange your handmade creations as unique Christmas in July gifts. This activity is perfect for both kids and adults, making it a fun and inclusive way to celebrate.

Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas in July

What is Christmas in July

Christmas in July is a celebration that allows people to experience the festive spirit of Christmas in the middle of the year. It typically involves traditional Christmas activities such as feasting, gift-giving, decorating, and other holiday-themed events. The idea is to recreate the joyful atmosphere of Christmas during a time when it is not usually celebrated, providing a fun and festive break from the usual routine.

Why is Christmas in July a thing?

Christmas in July is particularly popular in countries in the Southern Hemisphere, such as Australia, where the 25th of December falls during the summer. However, the concept of Christmas in July is not exclusive to Australia and is also celebrated in other countries around the world, including the United States and parts of Europe.

Why do people celebrate Christmas in July?

Christmas in July is particularly popular in countries in the Southern Hemisphere, such as Australia, where the 25th of December falls during the summer. However, the concept of Christmas in July is not exclusive to Australia and is also celebrated in other countries around the world, including the United States and parts of Europe.

There are several reasons why people enjoy celebrating Christmas in July:

• Seasonal Fun: In the Southern Hemisphere, July is wintertime, so celebrating Christmas allows people to enjoy traditional wintery Christmas activities, such as hot meals, cosy decorations, and festive drinks like mulled wine, which are more suitable for cold weather.
• Festive Spirit: Many people love the festive atmosphere of Christmas and look forward to the holiday season all year. Celebrating Christmas in July provides an extra opportunity to enjoy the holiday spirit and break up the year with a fun and joyous event.
• Social Gathering: Christmas in July is a great excuse to gather friends, family, and colleagues for parties, feasts, and other social activities. It encourages togetherness and community bonding, similar to the December holiday season.

Who celebrates Christmas in July?

Christmas in July is celebrated by various groups for different reasons. Retailers often use it to promote mid-year sales with festive discounts, akin to Black Friday. In the Southern Hemisphere, such as in Australia and New Zealand, people enjoy traditional Christmas festivities during their cold July weather.

When is Christmas in July in Australia?

As you might guess, many Australians choose to celebrate Christmas in July on the 25th of July. With this said, many Aussies celebrate Christmas in July on any day during the month. This works particularly well for those who want to celebrate the festivities on a weekend in a year where the 25th falls on a weekday. Whichever day you choose to celebrate, it’s sure to be cold in Australia, so enjoy rugging up and savouring those warm festive meals!

Where does Christmas in July come from?

In Australia, Christmas in July is a more recent phenomenon. The main theory as to how Christmas in July started in Australia is attributed to a group of Irish tourists who visited the Blue Mountains in 1980. The tourists were delighted to see snow on their summer holiday and proceeded to convince a local hotel owner to hold a Yulefest party. The trend to have a mid-year festive event then spread to other local businesses and subsequently made its way across Australia over the following years.