10 Reasons to Celebrate Christmas in July
“I just like to smile. Smiling’s my favorite!” Buddy, you’re my favorite! Elf, the movie, kicked off our week of Christmas in July. It got me thinking that next Christmas (for real or in July), I want to have a themed Elf party. With the menu being the elves’ four main food groups: “candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup.” Plus, we could serve spaghetti with syrup and play dare with ABC (already-been-chewed) gum. We’d have a competition putting together some kind of toy kit, and hands down, a burping contest would be a must. “Did you hear that?” For coffee drinkers, we’d host a taste test of everyone’s coffee brought from home to see who had the “World’s Best Cup of Coffee.” We could have the kids make a candy cane forest and “a sea of swirly and twirly gumdrops.” I think we’d need more than a party, we’d need a whole week!
Back to Christmas in July. Easy, breezy, beautiful Christmas in July. Here’s some reasons to do it:
1) Advent Calendar
Every kid loves an advent calendar - so why not do one in July? Ours this July is a Lego one. And this is the first year my kids really love Legos!
2) Christmas Music
Isn’t Christmas music the best music? So why not enjoy it for one little day or week in the middle of the year?
3) Family Time
Quality time together is always necessary - and this adds that special memory-making reason to really treasure the moments together and play games, sing hymns/carols, assemble puzzles, make crafts, sip cold-chocolate shakes (it’s summer!), write cards of love to each other, and enjoy special meals together.
4) Movies
It’s warm outside - so what a great time to project a Christmas movie outside like Elf, The Christmas Story, Charlie Brown Christmas, Klaus (which is a great story, by the way), The Star, Polar Express, Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, Toy Story that Time Forgot, The Grinch, Nightmare Before Christmas, and so much more. Or inside, you could have a Christmas movie marathon...and after the kids go to bed, it’s Hallmark Christmas Movie time!
5) Matching Jammies
Another chance to wear Christmas jammies as a family? I’m in! Plus, it might not be too late for your kids to fit in last year’s jammies!
6) Busyness
How nice to celebrate Christmas without it being uber busy. To celebrate at a time when you don’t need to be shopping, going to a bunch of parties, or cleaning your house for your own Christmas dinner. And, you don’t need to decorate - this is easy, breezy Christmas.
7) Gifts for Your Kids
All those little gifts you’ve been collecting for stocking stuffers - you could probably afford to give some of those to prevent overflow at actual Christmas. We wrap one little gift for each child (mad matter, cute pad of paper, a small lego set, a new hair brush) to open each day of our one week summer Christmas extravaganza.
8) Crafts and Homemade Gifts For Others
You know all those gifts you wish you or your kids had hand-made for your friends and family? Those are the crafts you do during this week. If you plan ahead and order the necessary supplies, all your handmade crafts for friends and family will be done! Before school starts, before the rush of all the fall holidays and Christmas shopping...it will be done.
9) Holiday Gap
Besides the Fourth of July, there’s a pretty big “kids’ holiday” gap between Easter and Halloween. So, why not have a Christmas day or week at the end of July? Also, just like New Year’s Eve or Day, you can utilize this time as a fresh start for setting new goals, making new resolutions, aligning your family vision for the remainder of the calendar year, and more.
10) Jesus is the Reason
Every Sunday we celebrate the birth, life, death, and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He is our strength, our shield, and our shepherd. Why not celebrate the moment when God entered His own story to save His children - on a daily basis?!?!...like Buddy says, “Treat everyday like Christmas.” At least in our hearts and minds we can.
Christmas in July is not new, but it’s fun! Why not tell the kids, “We'll go ice skating. And then we'll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookie Dough as fast as we can. And then, to finish, we'll snuggle." You know, “There’s room for everyone on the nice list!” Don’t miss out this year…you don’t want to be called a “cotton-headed ninny muggins!”