I am sure that we have all heard the term "Christmas in July" at some
point... where did the term originate and what is its history?

Hi quartofbeer,

   "Christman in July" is a term that originated in Australia. As we
all know, the Australian weather pattern is totally the opposite of
that in North America. When it is summer in America, it is winter in
Australia. Since Christmas and winter/snow is synonymous, Australians
have a Christmas-like celebration in July, and hence the term.

Christmas in Australia
http://www.shoal.net.au/~seabreeze/christmas.html
A summary of how Christmas is celebrated in Australia

Good day.

Cheers,
aditya2k

Search Terms
"Christmas in July"

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Request for Answer Clarification by quartofbeer-ga on 22 Jul 2002 16:15 PDT

Hi aditya2k-ga.
I think I would have to take alienintelligence-ga's Movie reference
over the Austrailian theory, since the movie had the earliest citation
date.  Are there any pre-1940 references to back up your assertion
that the term originated in Australia?

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Clarification of Answer by aditya2k-ga on 22 Jul 2002 21:08 PDT

Although there was a 1940 movie with the title, the term began and
ended there. There was no history associated with it then.

The real significance of the term is definitely the Australian
reference.

In 1980 the Blue Mountains commenced a winter attraction titled A
Yulefest Celebration which runs for the months of June, July and
August, the coldest months of the year. Tourists staying overnight
enjoy the delicious Yulefest dinners, roaring log fires and might be
lucky enough to experience the occasional winter snowfall or a visit
from Santa. This winter entertainment has spread to many parts of
Australia as "Christmas in July" where a Christmas style function is
held. It takes the form of a lunch or dinner with all the traditional
northern hemisphere Christmas foods including colourful streamers,
party hats and whistles.

Related URL : http://www.bluemountainstourism.org.au/

Hehe, everyone is claiming something
associated with it. It might be hard
to find the true origin. Here is a
sample:

http://www.holdenvillage.org/news/gcspring2002/janssen.html

http://www.mountainheritage.com.au/Yulefest.htm


still weeding,
-AI

another:

http://www.scribevision.com/49adtalon/tal072900/articles/xmas_in_july.htm

-AI

Maybe its an aussie thing, that would
make sense:

http://www.angelfire.com/al2/Australia/Xmas.html

-AI

This score 100% on the unlikely meter ;0)

http://www.mountaintimes.com/summer/eve_xmasjuly.php3

-AI

I couldn't help it:

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?query=christmas+in+july&newu=1

-AI

Guess what?

http://us.imdb.com/Title?0032338

It's a movie from 1940 also

Cast overview, first billed only: 
Dick Powell ....  Jimmy MacDonald  
Ellen Drew ....  Betty Casey  
Raymond Walburn ....  Dr. Maxford  


-AI

Newsgroup banter:

Search Result 8 
From: monde (monde@sirius.com)
Subject: Re: I know Christmas is coming..now! 
Newsgroups: alt.alt.alt.alt.alt
View: Complete Thread (13 articles) | Original Format 
Date: 1998/11/27 
 
Judge Horndogger wrote:

> Good thing you don't have cable.  The QVC(shopping channel) has Christmas
> in July!

please tell me you don't watch that channel...

> : Bah Humbug. :}
> 
> Happy Hanukkah?  :)

not jewish.  

=======================
-----------------------



-AI

Another .au (Australian) reference:

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=%22Christmas+in+July%22+began&hl=en&lr=lang_en&ie=UTF-8&selm=5431k5%24p8a%40alpha8.curtin.edu.au&rnum=1

.au   - 2
movie - 1 (+1 for age [1940])

it's a tie ;0)


-AI

The australia "tradition" is 1977 though,
the movie is 1940. You'll have to choose
the original Yule.

-AI