Celebrating Christmas in July: Why? Who Has Sales? What To Watch?

Hello!

I LOVE everything about Christmas and am a bit fascinated and curious about Christmas In July.  I did some research on the holiday and discovered the "why", who has sales and what to watch.

Christmas, the beloved holiday season that brings joy, warmth, and togetherness, is typically associated with the winter months. However, there's a growing trend that has captured the hearts of many: celebrating Christmas in July. This whimsical concept allows people to experience the magic of the holiday season twice a year, bringing with it all the traditional elements that make Christmas so special.

The "Why"

The origin of Christmas in July can be traced back to various sources and events that contributed to its establishment as a holiday tradition. While there isn't a definitive single origin story, several factors have shaped the concept and popularized the celebration of Christmas in July. Here are a few key influences:

1- The Southern Hemisphere's Seasons: In the southern hemisphere, Christmas falls during the summer months, which contrasts with the traditional wintry image associated with the holiday. In countries like Australia and New Zealand, where December is marked by warm weather and summer vacations, celebrating Christmas in July emerged as a way to experience a more traditional winter-themed Christmas during their colder months.

2- The Movie "Christmas in July": The 1940 American comedy film, "Christmas in July," directed by Preston Sturges, played a significant role in popularizing the concept. The movie tells the story of a man who mistakenly believes he has won a slogan contest and sets off a chain of events that lead to a joyous celebration resembling Christmas. The film's release helped introduce the idea of celebrating Christmas during a different time of the year.

3- Retail Sales and Promotions: During the early 20th century, retail businesses in the United States began promoting "Christmas in July" sales events to boost mid-year sales. These sales and promotions aimed to stimulate consumer spending during a traditionally slower period of the year.

Who Has Sales

Ok, let's dive deeper into the Retail Sales and Promotions.  What companies acknowledge the holiday and offer sales on their products to help us celebrate?

1- QVC offers deals on home decor, tablescape and everything Christmas.  Their deals run through 7/31 at 11:59 EST.

2- Kirkland's Home has all kinds of deals for Christmas in July.

3- Walmart is offering sales on their Christmas decor.

4- Etsy has a lot of themed items such as games, home decor, ornaments and all things holiday. This is a great way to support small businesses.

5- Amazon has a whole selection of Christmas in July items as well.

6- Travel sites.  Xanterra Travel Collection®  will run a sale from July 18 - 26th on all sorts of travel destinations.  If you like adventure, both domestic and international, check this out. 

These are but a few of the many stores and websites that offer Christmas in July deals.  I would also visit your local boutique stores to see if they are offering any specials.   These sales offer a great way to stock up on holiday decor as well as gifts for your friends and family for Christmas.  Not only do you need to purchase gifts, but you need to think about how you will package and wrap all of your gifts.

Depending on your household, there may be a sea of presents under the tree.  How can you make your gifts stand out?  Well, Disguise The Surprise is a new gift packaging tool that you want to learn about.  If you are giving someone a special gift like jewelry, a new cell phone or a tech item like a Nintendo Switch, they all come in very recognizable shaped boxes.  There is now a product that offers us a way to easily disguise these gifts.  Disguise The Surprise is a set of dividers you arrange around your one gift to disguise or highlight in a shirt box OR use the dividers to curate a thoughtful gift box full of goodies.  It literally takes less than one minute to disguise a gift and your mission is accomplished.  Your people are running down the stairs looking for a small box, not a shirt box.  It's the perfect disguise.  

If you want to take your gifts to the next level, you can use the dividers to create sections around your items to create a multi-item gift box.  You know your people and what they like.  You are in control of what goes in the box, making your gift personal and thoughtful.  Tailor it to their interests and it will for sure stand out among all the boxes and bags under the tree.  Having all of your items laid out nicely in one box looks much nicer than shoving them in a gift bag.  This is also a great idea if you need to mail your Christmas gifts, for the dividers help hold your items in place.  Learn more about Disguise The Surprise here. 

What To Watch

For those of you who love to watch a good love story, the Hallmark Channel has an entire month of Christmas movies and contests.  You can certainly get into the holiday spirit by curling up to your TV with slippers on, a cup of hot cocoa and popcorn in hand. Now, you might need to crank down your air conditioning to make it feel like winter or at least get into the spirit.  Click here to see their lineup of shows and the deals the contests they are offering.  

After reading about the history of Christmas in July, retail sales and what to watch, who is in for the celebration?  I am!  Why not experience the magic of Christmas twice a year.  It's good for the soul.  

With that, I wish you joy and success on your Christmas in July shopping adventures.  It's never too early to start planning for Christmas.  If you start now, you won't feel so stressed out and make spontaneous decisions in December.

Cheers!

Duffy