Christmas in July is an unofficial mid-year celebration that brings traditional Christmas food, decorations and activities into the Australian winter. It is the southern hemisphere’s way of enjoying that wintery Chrissy we’ve grown up watching on TV and in the movies. Perfect time for cosy jumpers, mulled wine, fairy lights, glowing fireplaces. Who doesn’t want an excuse to relax and have some fun in the dead of winter, or simply sit down together for a generous Christmas in July feast.
Here’s everything you need to know about this much-loved mid-year celebration.
Celebrating Christmas in July Traditions and Festivities
Christmas in July is an unofficial Christmas-themed celebration held during July. It brings back familiar traditions such as festive decorations, a Christmas tree, Christmas songs, gifts, games and a big seasonal meal—but it does not replace Christmas Day on 25 December.
There are no strict rules. For some people, it’s an intimate gathering at home. For others, it’s a Christmas in July party, a workplace event, a winter weekend away or an entire venue filled with fairy lights, fake snow and people making questionable fashion decisions in ugly Christmas sweaters.
Think of it as the magic of Christmas or as a perfectly good excuse to celebrate Christmas twice a year.
Why Do Australians Celebrate Christmas in July?
Why do we celebrate it in Australia? Well, firstly, it’s clear that we’re missing out on a certain wintery Christmas vibe that our friends over in the northern hemisphere get to enjoy year after year. Traditional Christmas imagery usually comes from the Northern Hemisphere: snowy streets, crackling fires, woolly jumpers, roast turkey and steaming mugs of hot chocolate. While they wake up to dark cold mornings and snowball fights, we wake up to hot weather and a burning sun. It’d be nice for us to enjoy the opposite for a change! Australian Christmas might not get any snow in winter, but we still want to enjoy cosy jumpers, hearty foods, and warm drinks in front of the fireplace.
Christmas in July in Australia lets us try the other version. Winter in Australia creates the perfect setting for Christmas traditions, roast dinners, Christmas pudding, mulled wine and a Christmas in July feast served beside the fire. Apart from the default December Christmas, we have a second Christmas that gives friends, families and teams a reason to reconnect during a cold July.
We can enjoy a summer Christmas in December and traditional winter Christmas traditions in July. Why choose one atmosphere of Christmas when you can have both?
Why Christmas in July Is Celebrated on 25 July
Christmas in July does not have an official date, but 25 July is commonly associated with the celebration. It mirrors Christmas Day on 25 December, giving the mid-year tradition an easy date for people to recognise and remember.
People can celebrate on any day that suits their guests. Many Australians choose the closest Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Workplaces often organise a mid-year lunch during the week, while hotels, restaurants and local events may run Christmas in July celebrations across the whole month. So the best date is simply the one that works for your gathering.
The Early History of Christmas in July in Australia
The term ‘Christmas in July’ has been in use since the early 1980s. Australia’s best-known story comes from the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, west of Sydney.
Legend has it that a group of Irish tourists visiting Sydney took a trip down to the Blue Mountains [link: https://www.visitbluemountains.com.au/travel/yule-love-our-yulefest-celebrations] and felt homesick at the sight of snowfall. It reminded them of Christmas back home and they had the urge to celebrate Christmas right then and there, in the Blue Mountains, in July. They convinced the hotel owner Garry Crockett to put on a traditional Christmas event which they called Yulefest, and eventually word spread around and the whole community wanted to join in.
The event was a hit. Other hotels, restaurants and attractions joined in, and the celebration grew into the Blue Mountains’ Yulefest tradition. Winter visitors could enjoy fireside dining, Yuletide decorations, entertainment and the occasional dusting of real snow—basically all the things our December weather usually refuses to provide.
Today, enjoying a Christmas in July feast in the Blue Mountains remains one of the most atmospheric ways to celebrate.
Christmas in July Celebrations Around the World
In Southern Hemisphere countries such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, July falls during winter. The occasion gives people a chance to enjoy a European-style Christmas with fireplaces, warm drinks, winter clothes and hearty food.
In the Northern Hemisphere, including the United States and Canada, July is summer. Christmas in July is more likely to appear as a playful party theme, summer-camp tradition, charity drive, Christmas movie marathon or retail promotion.
Across Australia, you’ll find Christmas in July celebrated in homes, offices, restaurants, hotels and public venues. Some cities and regional towns may organise Christmas markets, winter festivals, festive dinners, light displays, ice-skating sessions and other local events. You don’t need to travel, though. A few decorations, good company and a Christmas in July feast can turn your own dining room into a cosy winter celebration.
How Do People Celebrate Christmas in July?
People celebrate Christmas in July by borrowing their favourite parts of December Christmas and giving them a winter makeover.
That might mean preparing roast turkey, wearing Christmas sweaters or jumpers, exchanging Christmas gifts, playing a favourite Christmas song, watching festive films or gathering the team for a Christmas-themed office lunch.
Here are eight fun ways to host Christmas in July with good food, games and plenty of festive spirit.
1. Host a Cosy Yuletide Themed Party
Deck out your home or office in pagan-themed Yule decorations and throw a themed party for your friends, family, or coworkers! If it looks like Christmas and it sounds like Christmas, then surely it must be Christmas? Here are some festive decoration ideas to get you started:
- Drape holly, mistletoe, fairy lights, and fake snow along the ceilings and walls of your home or office. Avoid tinsel as it’s not very Yule-y.
- Set up a Christmas tree or decorate a smaller tabletop version.
- Order Christmas crackers, candy canes, & Christmas socks online and leave them on the dining table if you plan on hosting a lunch or dinner.
- Brew up some mulled wine and have a cauldron of it in the corner of the room for people to help themselves at your party.
- If it’s safe, light some candles around your home to create a warm, cosy atmosphere.
Now that your home or office is decorated with the appropriate Christmas theme, people will immediately feel the Yuletide cheer when they walk into your party. To keep the joy going, bring everyone together with some Christmassy activities.
Want more ideas? Read this article for more Christmas-themed suggestions CHRISTMAS BUCKET LIST: 15 CHRISTMAS IDEAS IN AUSTRALIA.
It would be a crime to throw a Yuletide party without an enormous feast, so make sure you treat your friends, family, or coworkers to a hearty Christmas feast. CHEFIN’s private chefs and catering can deliver a complete Yuletide meal fit for royalty straight to your home or office for the most luxury gourmet meal you’ve had.
2. Host a blindfolded Christmas in July dinner
Turn things up a notch this year and create the ultimate Christmas in July feast experience. If there’s anything that brings people together during Christmas period (other than wine), it’s tasting delicious food without being able to see what it is – wait, what?! Yep, we’re talking about a blindfolded dinner.
Turn the excitement up at your Christmas in July feast with a gourmet meal eaten entirely while blindfolded. This one-of-a-kind, interactive experience will have your friends, family, or coworkers sitting on the edge of their seats. All you have to do is sit down, be blindfolded, and enjoy a culinary journey courtesy of our expert chefs from CHEFIN. We will design a multi-course Christmas feast delivered to you and your guests by a private chef, and you will eat the meal while blindfolded.
During each course, you and your guests can take turns trying to guess what ingredients are in the dish. After a few rounds of guessing, banter, and laughs, your chef will come out and reveal the meal for you to finish eating without the blindfold. Whoever guessed the closest can be rewarded with another prize. There’re never enough prizes at Christmas in July!
3. Organise a Christmas Cooking Class
A cooking class is a great way to share fun, laughs, and some friendly competition with your loved ones and coworkers this Christmas in July. A wintery cooking class to break up the monotony of winter and jazz up your July! The thing about food is that it always brings people together, whether that’s during the eating part or the cooking part. And Christmas in July is all about bringing people together in the Christmas spirit.
Gather your family, invite your closest friends or reward your coworkers with a chef-led class inspired by traditional Christmas food. You could learn how to prepare roast dinners, handmade pasta, French desserts, native Australian dishes, vegan food or a selection of festive canapés.
Your cooking class can either be a friendly affair where everyone learns the recipe together, or you can make it a more exciting and competitive game that’s done Masterchef-style. Your chef can teach you the recipes and send you off to compete against each other for the best dish. The choice is yours!
4. Visit a Christmas in July Festival, Market or Ice Rink
There may not be snow, but there will be ice! One of the best Christmas in July activities is to head to a winter wonderland and go ice skating. Gather your friends, family, or coworkers, put on your ice skates, and get ready to move your body and do something refreshingly different this Christmas in July!
Ice skating is such a fun group activity that guarantees lots of laughs, memories, and maybe a few bruises for later! Top off your ice skating adventure with a gourmet Christmas in July lunch or a round of mulled wine to really soak up the Chrissy atmosphere.
The Blue Mountains is an obvious destination for a wintery Christmas weekend, but local events in Sydney and other cities can work just as well. Check official event pages before you go, as dates, programs and ticket requirements can change each year. So have a look for somewhere near you and plan your ice skating extravaganza!
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas in July in Australia
Still have questions about Christmas in July? These quick answers cover the most common things people want to know, from dates and traditions to food, gifts and how the celebration works in Australia.
Is Christmas in July Celebrated in Australia as a Public Holiday?
No. Christmas in July is an informal celebration, not a national or state public holiday. Businesses, schools and public services operate as usual unless the chosen date falls on another holiday or weekend.
Do Australians Celebrate Christmas Twice a Year?
Many Australians celebrate Christmas Day in December and then enjoy an informal second Christmas in July. However, Christmas in July is optional and generally smaller, more relaxed and focused on winter food, social gatherings and festive activities.
Why Do Businesses Celebrate Christmas in July?
Businesses use Christmas in July to create seasonal promotions, attract customers and encourage early Christmas shopping. It can also support team celebrations, client events, EOFY gatherings and special winter menus or accommodation packages.
Do People Give Christmas Gifts in July?
They can, but gifts are optional. Some groups organise a small Kris Kringle exchange, give novelty presents or make donations to charity. Many people celebrate Christmas in July entirely through food, games and time together.
What Do You Wear to a Christmas in July Party?
Christmas jumpers or sweaters are popular because July is cold enough to wear them comfortably. Depending on the event, guests may also choose festive accessories, smart winter clothing or a dressier Christmas-themed outfit.
What Food Is Served at a Christmas in July Celebration?
A traditional menu might include roast turkey, glazed ham, potatoes, winter vegetables, gravy and Christmas pudding. Modern celebrations may feature canapés, tasting menus, vegetarian centrepieces, grazing tables or international festive dishes. The best Christmas in July feast is one designed around your guests.
Can Christmas in July Be Celebrated Outside July?
Yes. July is the most common month, but some Australian hotels and destinations run Yulefest-style events throughout winter. For a private celebration, choose the date that works best for your group.
Make Christmas in July Your Second Christmas
There’s no single correct way to celebrate Christmas in July. You can plan a full Yuletide party, organise a team cooking class, visit a Christmas festival or simply gather your favourite people around the table.
What matters is creating a warm occasion in the middle of winter—preferably with good food and festive cheer.
Need some more help or ideas for a special Christmas in July dinner party? Get in touch with us today for party planning & foodie advice and an obligation-free quote! Or check out our packages and make a quick booking online!