What Is Christmas in July?
Christmas in July is a playful, off-season celebration that brings the festive spirit of December to the middle of summer. Rather than waiting until the temperature drops, people embrace the warmth of holiday traditions — gift exchanges, decorations, themed parties — with a lighthearted twist that puts sunshine where the snowflakes usually go.
The origins are fuzzy (some trace it to a 1940 holiday film; others to summer camp traditions), but the premise is simple and universally appealing: why limit the joy of giving to one season? Christmas in July says the magic of gathering, gifting, and celebrating doesn't require cold weather to work.
It's become especially popular for families spread across hemispheres (December Christmas is summer in Australia and New Zealand), remote teams looking for a mid-year morale moment, and anyone who just loves an excuse to celebrate.
How to Celebrate Christmas in July
There are as many ways to celebrate as there are people who do it. The most popular formats:
Gift exchanges — Run a summer-themed Secret Santa using Elfster. Set a budget, invite your group, and let Elfster draw names automatically. Participants build wishlists with summer-appropriate gifts, and Santas get something concrete to shop from.
Themed parties — Combine traditional holiday elements with tropical twists. Think illuminated palm trees instead of pine, sand snowmen instead of actual ones, holiday music at outdoor barbecues. The contrast is what makes it charming.
Holiday movies in summer heat — Classic Christmas films watched indoors with the AC cranked is a specific and perfect joy. Elf, Home Alone, and Die Hard (yes) are perennially contested Christmas in July favorites.
Mini stockings filled with summer essentials — Pool sunscreen, good sunglasses, a reusable water bottle, a summer paperback. Small gestures that fit the season without requiring a full gift exchange.
Virtual options — Participants ship gifts to each other in advance, then meet on a video call to open them together. Elfster handles the logistics; you provide the festivity.
Christmas in July Gift Exchange Ideas
The best Christmas in July gifts lean into summer while keeping the festive spirit. By theme:
Fancy Floats — Pool floats shaped like mermaids, avocados, giant pineapples, or pizza slices. Absurd, memorable, and genuinely used all summer.
Sweet Treats — Mini ice cream makers, tabletop s'mores sets, popsicle molds, outdoor cocktail kits. The kind of gifts that become the center of the next party.
Reindeer Games — Outdoor yard games: inflatable ring toss, cornhole sets, toppling tower games, lawn bowling. These get used for months after July.
Summer Libations — A quality wheeled cooler, a cocktail mixer set, inflatable drink holders for the pool. Practical luxury that everyone enjoys.
The Santa Clause — Anything that brings the December feeling to July: ugly Christmas sweaters worn ironically to the barbecue, hot cocoa gifted alongside summer snacks, a small ornament as a stocking stuffer for the joke of it.
Budget tip: keep summer Secret Santa budgets modest ($20–35) — the gifts should feel fun, not expensive.
How to Run a Summer Secret Santa on Elfster
Running a Christmas in July exchange on Elfster takes about five minutes:
1. Go to elfster.com and create a free gift exchange.
2. Name it something festive: "Summer Santa 2026," "Beach Elf Exchange," or "Ho Ho Hot."
3. Set your spending limit and your event date (pick a day in July when your group can meet).
4. Invite participants by email or shareable link.
5. Let Elfster draw names automatically — no coordination required, no one finds out who they got.
6. Ask participants to build wishlists with summer-appropriate items so Santas have direction.
The whole process is anonymous. Even the organizer doesn't know who drew whom. Elfster sends reminder emails, manages the wishlist sharing, and handles anonymous messaging between participants. You just show up on July 25 with something fun wrapped up in summer packaging.
2026 Update: Hot-Weather Picks for Your Christmas in July Exchange
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Christmas in July?
Christmas in July is a playful mid-year celebration that brings the spirit of December to summer. People celebrate with gift exchanges, holiday-themed parties, seasonal movies, and festive decorations — but with sunshine and popsicles instead of snow.
How do you do a Christmas in July gift exchange?
Use Elfster to set up a summer Secret Santa. Create an exchange, invite your group, set a summer-themed budget, and let Elfster draw names automatically. Participants can build wishlists with summer-appropriate gifts so Santas have something to work from.
What are good Christmas in July gift ideas?
Summer-themed gifts work best: pool floats, outdoor games, cocktail kits, ice cream makers, camp essentials, beach accessories, and anything that makes warm weather more fun. Keep the festive spirit but think sunshine over snowflakes.
When is Christmas in July?
Christmas in July is typically celebrated on or around July 25 — exactly six months before December 25. Some groups celebrate it throughout the entire month of July.
Can you do a Christmas in July party virtually?
Absolutely. Elfster supports fully virtual exchanges. Participants ship gifts to each other in advance, then meet on a video call to open them together — same surprise and festivity, no in-person logistics required.
