By Danny Minton

It sounds strange to talk about Christmas when the temperature outside is triple digits. A couple of TV channels have been spending the entire month showing Christmas-themed movies twenty-four hours a day. I even took time to watch a couple from another channel this past week. Is it odd to have shows with snow, Christmas trees, and presents in the middle of summer? Well, not if you’re in Australia, where it’s the middle of winter! In fact, I read that many in Australia celebrate Christmas twice, once in July and again in December. 

What about Jesus being born on December 25^th? The truth is that we don’t know when Jesus was born. From what we know, the early church didn’t celebrate his birth but his death and resurrection. It wasn’t until the 4^th century that December 25^th was proclaimed the day Jesus was born. Some think Jesus was born in the spring, and others in August or September. Legendary stories of St. Nicholas in the 3^rd century gave rise to the modern-day gift giver, Santa Claus.

So, when and why did we start celebrating Christmas in July? Many believe it goes back to 1933 when a woman named Fannie Holt co-founded the girls’ camp Keystone Camp in Brevard, North Carolina. In an article by Maria Carter in Country Living Magazine (July 2017), one former camper described Miss Fannie. “Miss Fannie was such a character: a whimsical, dreaming, creative type who added all of the uniqueness to the program.” Fannie decided to start a midsummer Noel on July 24 and 25 of 1933 to relieve the boredom and bring the warmth of the Christmas feeling to camp. Another camper tells of how guests were sitting around a decorated stage. “When the curtains opened, we found ourselves looking at a group of carolers standing by the Christmas Tree. Then who should arrive but Santa Claus himself? Right out of the top of the shoe house to the tune of ‘Jingle Bells.’ Then carolers began throwing cotton imitation snow.” It became a tradition for campers to place laundry bags outside their cabins and find them filled with candy and treats the following day. It was a time of warmth and love, and everyone feeling the spirit of goodness toward one another.

One of the musical numbers in Jerry Herman’s Broadway musical, Mame, is “We Need a Little Christmas.” Auntie Mame and the family are feeling low and depressed two weeks before July 4^th. In the middle of the song, Mame sings, “It’s time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough. For I’ve grown a little leaner, grown a little colder, grown a little sadder, grown a little older, and I need a little angel sitting on my shoulder, need a little Christmas now.” 

Fannie Holt saw that the girls at camp needed a little “pick me up” and decided that the best antidote to cheer everyone up and build their spirits was to bring a little of what people feel during the Christmas season. Our current world and country seem to be in one big depressive mood. Wars, economic concerns, political adversity, and numerous other concerns fill the air we breathe. Everywhere you turn, there is an air of negativism. We tend to look at all the negatives in the world and forget all the good that exists around us. 

Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything, worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9 (NASB) Instead of dwelling on all the negatives of life, spend time focusing on the good things that build up, not tear down.

Christmas in July may feel strange, but we all need a time of encouragement and good feelings. Christians need to put aside hard feelings, negative talk, and divisive comments and work to bring people together. Christ came to this world to give us hope in a world full of darkness. It doesn’t matter if He was born in December, April, July or September. What matters is that He came with God’s love for us all. Share the love. Share the warmth. Share goodwill with all those around you. 

Enjoy Christmas in July. Embrace goodness all year. Oh, by the way, I saw stores stocking the shelves with Christmas decorations yesterday if you want to start decorating for December!

Danny Minton is a former Elder and minister at Southern Hills Church of Christ