Celebrate Mid-Year Magic: The Best Christmas in July Recipes for a Festive Summer Party

Imagine the joyful jingle of bells, the aroma of festive spices, and the warmth of good company – but instead of winter snow, you’re basking in the glorious sunshine of July! That’s right, it’s time for the delightful tradition of **Christmas in July**! This unique mid-year celebration offers a fantastic excuse to gather your loved ones, share laughter, and indulge in an array of delicious food and drinks, all with a cheerful holiday twist.

Whether you’re hosting an elaborate party or a cozy get-together, a Christmas in July celebration is all about bringing that special festive spirit to the height of summer. We’ve curated a spectacular collection of recipes for you, featuring both sweet and savory delights, alongside refreshing beverages, to ensure your summer Christmas party is truly unforgettable. But before we dive into these mouth-watering creations, let’s explore the charming origins and meaning behind this beloved summer tradition.

What is Christmas in July All About?

Christmas in July, also sometimes referred to as Christmas in Summer, is an unofficial but widely celebrated second Christmas, typically observed during the summer month of July. Far from being a mere replica of the December holiday, it’s a playful and much-anticipated event that brings festive cheer to the warmer months, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s a chance to enjoy Christmas-themed activities without the usual winter chill, allowing for outdoor celebrations, lighter festive menus, and a refreshing twist on traditional holiday merriment.

The spirit of Christmas in July centers around creating a joyous, celebratory atmosphere. This can include anything from small, intimate gatherings with loved ones to larger themed parties. People embrace the concept with seasonal music, festive decorations (often adapted for summer themes), and even special shopping events, all designed to immerse the public in the “Christmas spirit” during a time when it’s least expected. It’s a delightful paradox that offers a unique opportunity to experience the magic of Christmas twice a year.

The Festive Origins of Christmas in July

The concept of celebrating Christmas in July has a few interesting theories regarding its origin, demonstrating that people have been eager to spread holiday cheer year-round for quite some time.

One of the earliest references appears in Werther, an 1892 French opera adapted from Goethe’s novel, with a libretto by Édouard Blau, Paul Milliet, and Georges Hartmann. An English translation published in 1894 by Elizabeth Beall Ginty features a scene where children rehearse a Christmas song in July. A character humorously remarks, “When you sing Christmas in July, you rush the season,” a translation of the French, “vous chantez Noël en juillet… c’est s’y prendre à l’avance.” While Goethe’s original The Sorrows of Young Werther includes Christmas, it does not mention July, suggesting the opera introduced this mid-year festive twist.

Later, in 1935, the National Recreation Association’s journal Recreation documented a “Christmas in July” celebration at a girls’ camp. This event was described with an air of “mystery and wonder,” highlighting its special and anticipated nature among the campers. This shows the concept gaining traction as an organized recreational activity.

The term truly entered the American lexicon and gained national attention with the release of the 1940 Hollywood comedy film Christmas in July, written and directed by Preston Sturges. The plot revolves around a man mistakenly believing he’s won $25,000 in a slogan contest. His ensuing generosity, buying presents for everyone and proposing to his girlfriend, showcases the joyful spirit associated with Christmas, even if the premise is a mix-up.

Beyond these specific cultural references, another significant explanation for Christmas in July, particularly popular in the Southern Hemisphere (countries like Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa), is the desire to experience a “traditional” winter Christmas. In these regions, December falls in their summer, meaning no white Christmases or cozy fireside meals. Celebrating in July, during their colder months, provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy hearty Christmas roasts, don ugly Christmas sweaters, and embrace the festive ambiance often depicted in Northern Hemisphere media. This has led to many shops and restaurants offering “Christmas in July” sales and special meals, making it a commercial as well as a social event.

Source: Wikipedia, pudforallseasons.com

How to Host Your Own Christmas in July Celebration

Ready to bring some summer sparkle to your holiday festivities? Celebrating Christmas in July is wonderfully flexible, allowing you to tailor the experience to your preferences. Here are some fantastic ideas to help you plan your perfect mid-year Christmas party:

• Deck Your Halls (or Patio!): Embrace the holiday decor with a summer twist. Think tinsel intertwined with fairy lights on your patio, wreaths made of vibrant summer flowers, or even beach-themed ornaments on a small indoor tree. The key is to blend traditional Christmas elements with your summer surroundings for a truly unique aesthetic.
• Get Creative with Your Christmas in July Menu: This is where the fun really begins! Instead of heavy winter dishes, consider lighter, seasonal adaptations. Barbecue your turkey, serve refreshing salads with a festive flair, or create themed cocktails that cool you down. We’ve got plenty of recipe inspiration below to get you started!
• Bring Back the Elf on the Shelf: If you have kids (or are just a kid at heart), reintroduce your Elf on the Shelf for a surprise mid-year visit. You can set up fun, summer-themed mischief for your elf to get into, creating new memories and traditions.
• Keep it Simple with Your Christmas in July Gifts: Unlike the main holiday, Christmas in July doesn’t have to be about grand presents. Consider a “Secret Santa” gift exchange with a small budget, a handmade gift swap, or simply focus on the gift of time and good company. The emphasis is on joy, not expense.
• Find Other Ways to Bring Some Holiday Fun to Your Summer: Beyond a party, you can watch your favorite Christmas movies, listen to festive tunes by the pool, or even organize a Christmas-themed scavenger hunt outdoors. The goal is to infuse your summer days with a touch of holiday magic and create lasting, happy memories.

Source: realsimple.com

Where is Christmas in July Celebrated?

While Christmas in July is increasingly popular globally, certain countries have truly embraced this mid-year celebration, often due to their geographical location and seasonal differences compared to the Northern Hemisphere’s traditional winter Christmas. Here are some of the main countries where you’ll find festive cheer in July:

• Australia: Perhaps the most enthusiastic celebrator, Australians often host “Yulefest” or “Christmas in July” events to experience a winter Christmas during their colder months.
• New Zealand: Similar to Australia, New Zealanders enjoy the opportunity to have traditional festive meals and cozy gatherings in July.
• South Africa: Another Southern Hemisphere nation, South Africa also embraces Christmas in July for its cooler weather, perfect for traditional Christmas feasting.
• United Kingdom: While in the Northern Hemisphere, many in the UK enjoy “Christmas in July” as a social event, often for charity or as a quirky excuse for a party.
• USA: Gaining popularity, particularly as a retail promotion and a fun reason to host themed parties during the summer.

Source: pudforallseasons.com

Intrigued by this wonderful tradition? Now, let’s turn our attention to the star of any celebration: the food! We’ve gathered an inspiring collection of recipes to make your Christmas in July party truly spectacular. From refreshing drinks to delightful savory bites and irresistible sweet treats, you’ll find everything you need to create a memorable festive spread.

36+ Christmas in July Recipes for Your Awesome Party

A festive party isn’t complete without an impressive spread of food and drinks. For your Christmas in July celebration, we’ve compiled a fantastic list of recipes designed to evoke the holiday spirit while perfectly suiting the summer season. Whether you’re looking for refreshing cocktails, crowd-pleasing savory appetizers, or delightful sweet treats, you’ll find something here to make your party truly memorable.

Festive Party Drinks

No party, especially one celebrating Christmas in July, is complete without a selection of delicious beverages. These festive drinks are perfect for keeping your guests refreshed while adding a spirited touch to your summer celebration. From sparkling mimosas to cool, chocolatey frappes, these recipes ensure there’s a delightful sip for everyone.

Christmas Morning Mimosas – The Short Order Cook

Christmas in July calls for a fun and vibrant red pomegranate mimosa to kick off the day. These easy and delicious cocktails are guaranteed to get the party started with a festive sparkle.

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Christmas Cosmopolitan

Enjoy a festive and elegant drink with this Christmas Cosmopolitan. It’s a wonderful way to begin any celebration and is certain to be a crowd-pleaser with its vibrant color and delightful taste.

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Frozen Hot Chocolate Frappe – The Stress-Free Christmas

Enjoy all the fun of Christmas even during the hottest weather with this delightful frozen hot chocolate frappé. It’s incredibly delicious, easy to prepare, and perfect for sharing with friends at your summer Christmas gathering.

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Irish Coffee Milkshake Shooters

Irish coffee milkshake shooters offer a delightful treat for adults, perfect year-round. They are festive enough for summer cooling and equally comforting for chilly winter nights, making them incredibly versatile.

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Peppermint Martini Recipe

This Peppermint Martini is a festive and incredibly delicious mint cocktail that offers a wonderfully refreshing kick. It’s perfect for holiday entertaining, bringing a cool burst of flavor to your Christmas in July party.

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Delightful Savory Bites for Your Christmas in July Party

While holiday parties are often associated with sweet treats, a truly memorable Christmas in July spread needs a selection of irresistible savory dishes. These recipes are designed to be flavorful, easy to make, and perfect for mingling guests. From vibrant salads to hearty appetizers, discover the perfect savory additions to your festive summer gathering!

Christmas Salad

This fresh, bright salad truly embodies all the colors of Christmas! It’s made with crisp broccoli, tender cauliflower, zesty red onion, and juicy cherry tomatoes, all tossed in a creamy, delicious dressing.

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Caprese Christmas Wreath

This stunning Caprese Christmas Wreath is the ideal festive addition to your holiday table. It’s not only delicious but also incredibly easy to prepare and pairs beautifully with a variety of other dishes.

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Ranch Snowman Cheeseball

Tangy cream cheese and zesty ranch come together in this super simple appetizer. It is easier to make than it looks and is guaranteed to be the cutest item on your holiday buffet, perfect for a Christmas in July spread!

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Beef Crostini with Mascarpone Sauce

Christmas in July wouldn’t be complete without a sophisticated savory appetizer like this beef crostini. Featuring thinly sliced beef tenderloin served on toasted baguette with a delectable and creamy mascarpone sauce, it’s sure to impress.

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Easy Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls

Easy to make and incredibly filling, these puff pastry sausage rolls are packed with flavorful ground beef and potato. They can be prepared ahead of time, making them a convenient option for effortless entertaining during your Christmas in July gathering.

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Baked Brie with Cranberry Sauce

Baked brie cheese with a sweet and tangy cranberry sauce is a guaranteed crowd-pleasing party appetizer. This vegetarian, gluten-free cheese dish is incredibly easy to make and creates a stunning, elegant, and festive starter for any holiday celebration, including Christmas in July!

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4 Cheese Ball Recipes

Discover four incredible cheese ball recipes perfect for Christmas holiday appetizers, delightfully shaped to resemble tree ornaments! Learn how to create Festive flavors including White Cheddar Rosemary Pomegranate, Cheddar Pimiento, Garlic Chive Goat Cheese, and Blue Cheese Cranberry Pecan. These will undoubtedly be the star holiday party appetizer on any cheese board, exuding pure Merry Christmas cheer.

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Irresistible Sweet Treats for Your Christmas in July Party

Every holiday celebration calls for something sweet, and Christmas in July is no exception! Indulge your sweet tooth with this delightful selection of festive desserts and treats. From classic cookies to unique cakes, you’re sure to find the perfect recipe to add a touch of sugary magic to your summer Christmas party.

Candy Cane Cupcakes | Christmas Dessert | Holiday | EmilyFabulous

These adorable and festive Candy Cane Cupcakes are the absolute perfect treat for Christmas or any holiday gathering. Topped with a homemade peppermint buttercream frosting, these cupcakes taste exactly like a refreshing candy cane!

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Strawberry Santas

These delightful and easy-to-make Strawberry Santas are a fantastic snack for kids and will be a huge hit as a Christmas Day dessert or at any Christmas party, including your July festivities.

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Christmas pudding ice cream

This Christmas pudding ice cream is incredibly easy to make with just three ingredients. It’s perfectly suited for Christmas in July or if you’re seeking a festive and impressive dessert to truly wow your guests during the main holiday season.

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Eggnog Cheesecake {no bake}

This no-bake eggnog cheesecake is a creamy and truly delicious holiday dessert, perfect for any Christmas party or for simply enjoying at home. The subtle ginger flavor in the crust, combined with the warm nutmeg notes in the filling, makes this cheesecake a genuine taste sensation.

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Poinsettia Cookies – Sula and Spice

These charming pinwheel-shaped cookies look just like vibrant poinsettias when you use colored sugar to decorate them. They are so much fun to make and will add a festive touch to any holiday dessert table!

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Moist Christmas Cake Balls (My Most Requested Holiday Dessert)| Aleka’s Get-Together

This recipe for incredibly moist Cake Balls is one of the most requested desserts every Christmas. However, they are versatile enough to be made for ANY holiday, including birthdays! They are consistently moist and truly the one sweet treat that everyone goes absolutely crazy for, year after year.

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Christmas Tree Cupcakes

These Christmas Tree Cupcakes look absolutely impressive, yet they are surprisingly easy and incredibly fun to create! Making these gorgeous and delicious Christmas cupcakes is a perfect and festive way to celebrate the season, whether in December or July.

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Snowmen Vegan Meringue Cookies

These charming snowman-shaped Vegan Meringue Cookies will undoubtedly be a huge hit at your Christmas in July party! They are wonderfully sweet, perfectly crisp, airy in texture, and absolutely adorable, making them a fantastic festive treat.

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Grinch Jello Shots

These vibrant Grinch Christmas Jello Shots are guaranteed to liven up any party! The recipe includes an easy video tutorial and step-by-step instructions, making them simple to prepare for your festive gathering.

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Strawberry Christmas Lights

These delightful Christmas Strawberries are chocolate-covered strawberries cleverly disguised as adorable Christmas lights! They are not only yummy to eat but also serve as a wonderfully decorative addition to your holiday spread.

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Festive Eggnog Pancakes That Will Make Santa Proud

Infuse your breakfast table with joy and holiday spirit with these festive and fluffy eggnog pancakes. They are wonderfully served with a rich cinnamon nutmeg whipped butter and a warm, drunken maple syrup, making them a true Christmas delight.

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Decadent Whiskey Chocolate Truffles | Marley’s Menu

These decadent bite-sized Whiskey Chocolate Truffles are the ultimate pop-in-your-mouth treat for any festive occasion. They boast an intense chocolate flavor perfectly complemented by a touch of boozy bliss, making them ideal for your Christmas in July party.

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Host an ugly Christmas sweater cookie decorating party

Too hot to wear an ugly Christmas sweater in July? No problem! Let everyone’s creativity shine by hosting an “ugly Christmas sweater cookie” decorating party instead. It’s a fantastic, interactive way to celebrate the holiday with a cool summer twist.

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Christmas Pudding Protein Balls

Maintain your summer figure while enjoying festive flavors with these healthy Christmas pudding protein balls. They are packed with traditional warm spices like cinnamon, allspice, and cocoa, along with a touch of orange, and naturally sweetened with dates and raisins for a guilt-free treat.

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Cake Pop Maker Ginger Bread Pops

What better way to spread holiday joy than with these delightful gingerbread cake pops? These flavorful and fun-sized treats are quick to make and provide a tasty burst of festive spice, perfect for any Christmas celebration, even in July!

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How To Make Stained Glass Cookies

Stained glass cookies begin as a delicious buttery sugar cookie, then with a little holiday magic, the center of the cookie becomes beautifully translucent with melted candy. These cookies are perfect for a festive platter, a cookie exchange, or simply for delightful holiday baking!

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Christmas Tree Cookies

This incredibly easy shortbread recipe is the perfect way to quickly make charming Christmas tree cookies that you can decorate in countless festive ways. The dough comes together with just 3 simple ingredients, then cut into tree shapes, baked, and dressed up to embody the holiday spirit or even assembled into an edible 3D Christmas Tree farm.

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Christmas Chocolate Salad

What could possibly bring more festive joy than a Christmas Chocolate Salad? Appealing to both the young and old, this easy-to-make platter of chocolate and fruits will serve as a perfectly fitting and delightful end to any Christmas gathering, whether it’s in July or December!

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Candied Pecans | Sometimes you feel like a nut

Sometimes you feel like a nut… and sometimes you just crave some irresistibly delicious candied pecans! Low in carbohydrates and sodium, these gluten-free treats are sure to disappear quickly at your next holiday party or festive get-together, especially for Christmas in July.

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Vegan White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies (Gluten-Free, Allergy-Free)

The absolute perfect holiday cookie recipe that tastes just like Christmas! These Vegan White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies are gluten-free, allergy-free, and generously filled with dairy-free white chocolate chips and crushed peppermint candies! Easy and utterly delicious, they’re a fun and inclusive addition to your seasonal cookie swap and dessert platters.

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Homemade Marshmallows

You won’t believe how incredibly easy homemade marshmallows are to make! With just a few simple ingredients, you’ll create naturally sweet and wonderfully fluffy marshmallows that are not only delicious but also incredibly fun to prepare for your Christmas in July guests.

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No-bake Vanilla Christmas Cheesecake

This beautiful no-bake vanilla cheesecake, adorned with festive reindeer decoration, is guaranteed to bring abundant Christmas cheer to everyone. It’s an effortless yet elegant dessert perfect for your July celebrations.

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Easy Christmas cake

This simple Christmas cake is generously packed with delicious fruit and is incredibly easy to ice. It’s the perfect traditional bake to enjoy during your Christmas in July festivities or the main holiday season.

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Vegan Chocolate Star Bread – Sugar Spice ‘N Everything Nice

For your Christmas in July celebration, we’re thrilled to present our exquisite chocolate-filled, wonderfully crunchy, and completely vegan star bread. It’s the perfect showstopper to kick off your holiday season with a special, plant-based twist!

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Looking for even more recipe collections to inspire your holiday feasting? Be sure to check out our comprehensive Christmas Appetizer Recipe Collection Part I and Christmas Appetizer Recipe Collection Part II for starters that wow! For the main event, explore our Christmas Dinner Soup Collection and the essential Christmas Dinner Main Course Recipe Collection for a complete festive meal!

With this extensive array of sweet and savory party food recipes, along with refreshing drinks, you now have a wealth of ideas to plan your upcoming Christmas in July party! I truly hope you have an absolutely fantastic time celebrating this unique mid-year holiday. Please do let me know which recipes you tried and how they turned out – I would be so thrilled to hear about your festive successes!

To make your party planning even easier, you can save all these wonderful recipes for later. Download my convenient link list in PDF form, featuring every single recipe, so you’ll have them right at your fingertips whenever you need them for your summer celebration!

Have a truly magnificent summer! And, of course, a very Merry Christmas in July! 😎 🎄