While Australians celebrate their Christmas in the famous Aussie heat eating refreshing barbeque food, and playing in the pool, there are some that long for a white Christmas. Many Australians feel robbed of a wintery Christmas, where they eat a warming roast and sing songs around a lovely fire. Christmas movies feed Australian childhoods with nothing but images of snow, reindeer and all that goes with the heart- warming Christmas that doesn’t exist in Australia. With temperatures in the 30s, no matter how desperate you may be, there is no way to enjoy what those in the Northern Hemisphere get to.
It is this idea that sparked the concept of ‘Christmas in July’. In the cool temperatures of winter in July, many Australians have taken to putting up a tree, and decorations that fit with a cold Christmas. Christmas in July gives Australians a chance to cook the warm and tantalizing food of a real Christmas.
For Deborah Salvay, an American, Christmas in July is a chance to reconnect with her past. “I can almost smell the turkey my mum used to cook for our Christmas dinner when I cook my pretend Christmas feast” she says.
Throughout Australia there are events running that inject Christmas cheer into the middle of the year.
Christmas in July began in the 80s, at the boutique hotel Mountain Heritage in the New South Wales Blue Mountains . A group of Irish visitors, visiting in the Australian winter, saw snowflakes dancing in the wind, and felt celebrating Christmas in the summer didn’t quite feel the same. The idea quickly spread across the country, as Australians realized they could celebrate the Christmas they had always wanted.
Deborah says: “Snowmen just don’t work in the summer, in fact Santa doesn’t even really work”. Celebrating in the Australian winter sees as much effort go into Christmas decorations as the real date gets. This just goes to show that the joy of Christmas is not locked to the 25th of December, it is locked within people and can be celebrated at any time!
Below is a list of Christmas in July events around Australia that are spreading the love of Christmas not matter what the month!
Blue Mountains, NSW
The Blue Mountains in NSW celebrate Yulefest 2009. Australians can enjoy a white Christmas in the Blue Mountains.. Celebrations include a Winter Ball, roast dinners with all the trimmings, carols and mulled wine. Many of the hotels, motels, restaurants and guesthouses get into the winter Christmas spirit too.
Cradle Mountain, Tasmania
From 1 July to 31 July 2009 at the Cradle Mountain Lodge you can enjoy a warming winter meal with all the trimmings of Christmas including festive carols, decorated trees and pudding with brandy sauce.
Docklands, Victoria
Docklands restaurants Bopha Devi, James Squire Brewhouse and Restaurant, Liquid Restaurant and Bar, Vic Harbour Restaurant and Bar and Yum Cha Dragon are all donate a percentage of their proceeds to Vision Australia Services when you enjoy their Christmas in July menu. Most are available for lunch and dinner
By Rachel Sandler