Christmas is a great time to celebrate with your friends and family members – even if you do it mid-year, otherwise known as Christmas in July. For older adults who are looking for some fun ideas to celebrate this normally frosty and cold holiday in the heat of the summer, look no further.
What are some Christmas in July ideas for seniors? Similar to the traditional holiday in winter, a Christmas in July celebration can include parties, seasonal drinks and snacks, holiday activities, and Christmas music.
In this blog post, we will discuss several activities that are perfect for seniors who want a fun way to celebrate this quirky holiday. From festive parties to outdoor adventures, we have something for everyone. So put on your Santa hat (or board shorts!) and get into the holiday spirit!
What The Heck Is Christmas In July? Who Started Christmas In July?
For those of us who live in the northern hemisphere, Christmas in July may seem like a strange concept. After all, what is there to celebrate when it’s hot and sunny outside?
No one is really sure how Christmas in July actually began. One popular theory is that Christmas in July was started by movie theaters. In the 1930s, many theaters would hold special event screenings of Christmas movies in order to boost attendance during the slow summer months.
Another theory is that Christmas in July was started by retailers as a way to encourage people to get a head start on their holiday shopping.
Country Living reported that this offbeat holiday began at a girl’s camp in North Carolina in 1933.
The theory that seems most likely is that it has its origins in the southern hemisphere, where people celebrate the holiday during their mid-winter (in the southern hemisphere, seasons are reversed from ours). In recent years, the tradition has caught on in the north, and now people of all ages enjoy celebrating Christmas in July.
For instance, my daughter loves Christmas, so when she got married in July a few years ago, they had a Christmas-in-July-themed wedding, complete with hot chocolate, warm cinnamon rolls, and other holiday goodies.
They put up a Christmas tree, had holiday music playing in the background, and even asked guests to dress in red or green.
As you can see, regardless of how it began, Christmas in July is now a popular tradition all over the world.
Christmas In July Party Ideas For Adults
There are many Christmas in July activities that seniors can do, from decorating their homes to having festive parties. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Bake some holiday goodies. One activity that’s popular throughout the year is baking cookies.
For Christmas in July, you can bake holiday cookies with your grandkids if you have them, or even by yourself. You can find thousands of recipes for holiday treats online, so try to find different recipes than the ones you normally make during the holidays.
Have a picnic lunch complete with holiday-themed foods and drinks. You can’t have a snowball fight, but you can enjoy the warm summer weather and get some fresh air. You can make all of your favorite summer food.
For dessert, why not try making a trifle? It’s a layered dessert made with fruit, custard, cake, and whipped cream. So delicious – and perfect for hot weather.
Since it’ll probably be blazing hot, be sure to limit your time in the sun and summer heat and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Set up a photo booth with props like Santa hats and reindeer antlers. This can be as simple as setting aside a corner of your living room and asking guests to bring holiday props with them. People can choose which props they want to have with them in the photo.
To add to the fun, set up a hot chocolate bar with fun things like mini marshmallows and crushed candy canes to sprinkle on top.
Hold a holiday-themed potluck dinner. Ask your guests to bring a holiday-themed dish of their choice. Be sure to take any food allergies into consideration (ask your guests if they have any, then let the other attendees know what ingredients they must avoid using).
I would also suggest that you request the attendees to tell you what they are bringing by a certain time frame before your potluck dinner (set a firm respond-by date). This way, you don’t end up with 5 salads and no dessert or have 6 types of potato casseroles.
Organize a toy drive or food drive to benefit those in need. This takes the place of the traditional gift exchange we do during the real holiday.
Ask each guest to bring a non-perishable food item with them. Or ask them to bring a new, unwrapped gift. Then donate the items to your local food bank or Salvation Army or women’s shelter.
Toys For Tots has a virtual toy box, meaning you can make toy donations online (thus saving people from having to shop for them).
Get together with friends and family for a festive game night. You can bake Christmas cookies and serve them with a refreshing cider or fruity summer drink while everyone plays games that have been repurposed for the occasion.
For example, you can play Christmas Bingo or maybe Christmas Trivia. Another great option is to revamp a traditional card game with a playing card deck that is holiday themed.
Have a movie marathon of all your favorite Christmas movies. Nowadays, most streaming services, like Netflix or the Hallmark Channel, have holiday movies available all year ’round.
Christmas in July means you have a great opportunity (excuse!) to watch Christmas classics like It’s A Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street. Or if you’re looking for a more recent holiday movie, try Elf or The Polar Express.
Either way, pick your favorites, put on your ugly Christmas sweater, make some popcorn and get cozy on the couch.
This activity is undeniably a great way to relax and escape the heat. That said, it will be more holiday-themed if you turn down the AC and wear a Christmas sweater or accessories, like hats and scarves.
Have a festive party. Another great way to celebrate Christmas in July is to have a holiday party. This can be as simple or as elaborate as you like.
You can decorate your home with holiday decorations, play Christmas music, and serve holiday-themed food and seasonal snacks and drinks, like hot chocolate or popcorn balls. And don’t forget the Christmas music!
One of the best things about Christmas in July is that you can start thinking about and planning your holiday menu well in advance. Having a party allows you to try out new recipes that you can incorporate in with your old favorites during the traditional holiday season.
If you decide to exchange gifts, here are some Christmas in July gift ideas, or you can have a white elephant gift exchange.
Make Christmas crafts. I was just in Hobby Lobby (I’m writing this in mid-June) and holiday craft items are already hitting the shelves so that crafters have time to get a jump on making their creations.
Pick up some ornaments that you can paint or maybe get a tie-dye kit and tshirts and create some wonderful gifts to give loved ones when the real Christmas season comes along.
Wreath making. Get a jump on this year’s Christmas decorations by making a wreath for the front door.
Or, instead of making Christmas wreaths, why not make a summer wreath? You can always add a Christmas touch by wrapping a sparkly gold or silver ribbon around it.
What Are Some Christmas In July Decorations?
How much you decorate depends on how much effort you want to put into this mid-summer holiday – there’s no right or wrong way to decorate.
Some people go all out and put up a Christmas tree and lots of Christmas lights, others just add a few holiday touches around the house. There are no real trees available this time of year, obviously, so you’d have to use an artificial tree, though.
You could also make a wreath for your door, as I mentioned in the prior section, or simply add some garland and twinkle lights around the house.
How Do You Make An Outdoor Christmas Party?
For an outdoor party, you could set up a picnic table with all sorts of Christmas goodies. Or you can make summer foods, such as barbeque or hamburgers, but use food coloring to make them “holidayish,” such as making the buns green or the potato salad red.
You could also have some fun games set up, like a bean bag toss or a scavenger hunt. If you wanted to get really festive, you could even have a Santa Claus come visit!
Wrapping It Up
Whatever reason it began, Christmas in July has become a cherished tradition for many people all over the world. So if you’re feeling festive this summer, don’t hesitate to celebrate. After all, it is the second most wonderful time of the year. Merry Christmas in July!