In Western culture, Christmas occurs on December 25. Christmas is generally about gift-giving and holiday cheer. Christmas in July celebrations may be held in July to provide a second joyful celebration in the year.[source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_July]
In the southern hemisphere, Christmas in July is the name given to social events with a winter Christmas theme, as July is generally the coldest month of the year.
In the northern hemisphere during the summer months the weather becomes increasingly warm and many people crave the atmosphere of cooler temperatures, gift giving and holiday spirit. To satisfy this, some people throw parties during the month of July that mimic the holiday of Christmas. The features of Christmas in July include Santa Claus, ice cream and other cold foods and gifts.
The earliest known occasion to make the phrase Christmas in July literal was in July 1933 at Camp Keystone, a girl's summer camp in North Carolina, which celebrated with a Christmas tree, gifts, and a visit by Santa Claus. In 1935, the National Recreation Association's journal Recreation described what a Christmas in July was like at a girl's camp, writing that "all mystery and wonder surround this annual event."
In 1942, the Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., celebrated Christmas in July with carols and the sermon "Christmas Presents in July". They repeated it in 1943, with a Christmas tree covered with donations. The pastor explained that the special service was patterned after a program held each summer at his former church in Philadelphia, when the congregation would present Christmas gifts early to give ample time for their distribution to missions worldwide. It became an annual event, and in 1946 the service began to be broadcast over local radio.
The U.S. Post Office and U.S. Army and Navy officials, in conjunction with the American advertising and greeting card industries, threw a Christmas in July luncheon in New York in 1944 to promote an Early Christmas Mailing Campaign for service men and women overseas during World War II. The luncheon was repeated in 1945.
Midwinter 'Christmas' or Yulefest is an unofficial Midwinter/Yuletide related celebration followed by some families, mainly those with a English or European background in Australia and New Zealand during the wintertime (which in the Southern Hemisphere falls into the June-July-August period). There is no official holiday, and the date of observance varies from place to place and even family to family, though it is often around the time of the shortest day or winter solstice, which in the Southern Hemisphere is June 20 or 21.While having little connection with the actual Christmas holiday, it is occasionally an occasion for work functions or similar events celebrating Yuletide traditions in wintry conditions.
McMurdo Station in Antarctica celebrates Christmas in July, as well as in December. Its origins there appear to be how deliveries were made. July is in the middle of winter in Antarctica; high winds and ice once made it too dangerous for planes to land with supplies. Instead, planes parachuted deliveries (such as food and mail) to the ice. The sudden arrival of presents from the sky in July reminded some people of a "visit from Santa."
Disney is pulling out all the whistle stops and taking its show on the
road with a spectacular immersive and interactive 40-city train tour including a 3D sneak peek of film
footage from the upcoming movie “Disney’s A Christmas Carol.” Set amidst a snowy backdrop—complete with all of the
sights and sounds of Christmas including carolers, decorations, giveaways and many more surprises in
each of the 40 cities—the Train Tour is being launched with HP on board as the title and technology
sponsor and driven by Amtrak. This family event is for guests of all ages and is free to the public.
Starring Jim Carrey and directed by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis, “Disney’s A
Christmas Carol” opens in theatres November 6 in Disney Digital 3D™ and in IMAX 3D®.
Featuring four custom-designed vintage rail cars full of behind-the-scenes attractions, entertaining
demonstrations, and fun activities, the tour will have its inaugural stop at Los Angeles’ Union Station over
Memorial Day Weekend, from May 22nd through May 25th. During the next 24 weeks, the train will make
40 stops in 36 states, as it travels its way across more than 16,000 miles of track. The tour will finish at
New York’s Grand Central Terminal over the weekend of October 30th through November 1st.
Four-time Grammy Award winner Daniel Ho, singer-songwriter Jack Johnson, and ki-ho‘alu master Kawika Kahiapo are just a few of Hawaii’s finest musicians to collaborate on a new CD dedicated to ocean conservation. Kai Palaoa honors Hawaii’s deep and ancient connection to the ocean and encourages others to help protect and conserve its special treasures. Kai Palaoa was made possible through the support of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation through the Ernest F. Hollings Ocean Awareness Trust Fund.
The 11-track album features a number of Hawaii’s top artists; some of whom created original composition specifically for the CD. Joining Ho, Kahiapo and Johnson on the musical compilation are The Makaha Sons, Tia Carrere, Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, Pali, Herb Ohta, Jr., George Kahumoku, Jr., Steve Sano and Kaukahi. All of the musicians donated their work and time to raise awareness of the importance of Hawaii’s ocean resources and the need to protect them.
“Kai Palaoa, in the poetic form of the Hawaiian language, means the place where two currents meet,” said Naomi McIntosh, superintendent of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Sanctuary, which also provided support for the CD. “It is this definition that inspired this musical compilation, with the goal of supporting education for the future of our ‘One Ocean’ that connects us all.”
[source: http://store.nmsfocean.org/Kai_Paloa_p/kaipalaoa09.htm]
