Did you know last month was Christmas in July? Here in Nebraska, it’s hard to think of Christmas with daily temperatures in the 90’s with matching humidity. Years ago, when I first heard of celebrating Christmas in July, I immediately dismissed it as the attempts of some clever marketeers to generate increased sales in the middle of the year.
However, after considering the fear and turmoil in the world around us with the coronavirus pandemic, civil unrest, and general mayhem, the celebration of Christmas in July sounds very appealing. Not so much about the buying and exchanging of gifts but to capture the spirit of Christmas to share it with our family and others.
History
Christmas in July started 87 years ago on July 24th and 25th in 1933 at a girls’ camp called Keystone Camp in Brevard, North Carolina. “I never thought it was unique to us,” Page Ives Lemel, the Keystone Camp director, said in an interview. “It seems like something other camps would do.”
However, this wasn’t the case, according to the camp’s 100th anniversary celebration book, the first time anyone celebrated “Christmas in July” was at Keystone.
Christmas in July consisted of carolers, a Christmas Tree, Santa Claus, presents, and cotton balls for fake snow. As the tradition evolved, campers would use laundry bags as makeshift stockings, which they placed outside their cabins to be filled with candy overnight.
Eventually, elves, reindeer, and Mrs. Claus joined the act, along with a camp-wide gift exchange, counselors included. The tradition continues today.
Blazing-hot Carolina summers have yet to stop the camp’s tradition – now they simply go for a dip in the lake after opening the gifts.
A Condition of the Heart
Christmas is a condition of the heart. There’s no Christmas until you feel the Christmas spirit. Therefore, we must appreciate the real meaning of Christmas and embrace its true spirit:
Here are some great ideas on how to put you and your family in the Christmas spirit.
Giving
To embrace the true meaning of Christmas we need to give our love to others. As we give, remember that no material gift can ever equal the love we give to another person and the time spent together with them.
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Pay it Backward
Something I occasionally do when I’m in the drive-thru lane at a restaurant is paying for the person behind me. Depending on the amount I pay it in full or make a nice down payment. Although I never see their reaction I’m satisfied by knowing the pleasant surprise the person receives when they find out their meal is paid for.
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Other Ideas
If you’re able to dine in leave an extra healthy tip for your server, give an extra offering at church for a missionary family, or as a family pick an organization you can donate to, even better if you can have every family member contribute an amount.
Appreciation
Appreciation is essential. Sadly, many of us are dissatisfied with our lives.
We spend almost no time appreciating what we already have and feeling grateful for it. Instead, we focus our energies on all the things we want to have.
Gratitude and appreciation for what we have, and a loving heart, these are what the Christmas spirit is all about.
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Cook and Praise
Make your family a delicious, healthy meal, or get take out from the family’s favorite restaurant. Nothing says love like a home-cooked meal or the family’s favorite take out. Have everyone put their technology away. During dinner, have each family member say one nice thing about the person to their right. Do something small but thoughtful for everyone – like clean up after dinner!
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Read the Christmas Story
Reading the story of Jesus’ birth should inspire the entire family.
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Karaoke
Have a Christmas karaoke sing-off.
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Bake
There’s nothing quite like the smell of fresh-baked Christmas treats wafting through the house to put you in a wonderful mood. Don’t want to feel guilty for consuming all those calories?
Wrap some up and take them to a neighbor, a shut-in, or down to a homeless shelter. Lift someone else’s spirits and your own in the process. The effect on someone receiving some Christmas favorites in the middle of the year will help them capture the Christmas spirit.
Service to Others
Embracing the spirit of Christmas also means giving to those most in need. Doing some service for someone in need or even anonymously leaving a donation. Such actions demonstrate an understanding of the real nature of Christmas.
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Volunteer
Offer to do something you know a family member doesn’t enjoy doing, like organizing their closet or doing one of their chores.
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Be Crafty
Grab your kids and put together a gingerbread house (don’t forget to eat some of those treats in the process!), gather supplies and make a few Christmas ornaments with your family, or call some friends over and create Christmas cards to take to a local nursing home.
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Christmas Movies
Grab some popcorn or maybe hot cocoa and settle in for a Christmas movie marathon. Not sure what to watch? Just Google “Top Christmas movies” and a plethora of excellent choices awaits you
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Offer to Help
You are not an island unto yourself. Round up your posse and tackle your list! Do you have older kids who are out of school? Do your parents or in-laws have free time on their hands? Ask them to help cross something off your list.
Amidst all the chaos in the world take some time to pause and evaluate what’s truly important.
Christmas is a powerful time for reflection. It is a charitable time, a time for kindness and joy. The true spirit of Christmas is evidenced best in a generous heart.
And, just like life, Christmas becomes what we decide to make it. When we truly embrace the spirit of Christmas, with all its warmth, joy, and love, we most closely resemble the spirit of Bethlehem and the character of baby Jesus.
Think about ways today where you can show generosity of spirit that has nothing to do with your pocketbook.
