Do you celebrate Christmas in July? It’s a popular theme on our blog at the moment. In recent weeks we’ve posted a couple of blog posts on the topic. Plus, we have a list of free and 99c Christmas-themed ebooks in this post.
Christmas in July makes sense in Australia and the other countries in the southern hemisphere. We’re in the middle of winter, and it’s the time of year when we can potentially experience a white Christmas.
Did you know that Christmas in July originated in North Carolina eighty-four years ago? Check out this article from Southern Living that shares the story behind Christmas in July. It reminds me of a real Aussie hot summer Christmas in December, lol.
Winners this Week
If you’re a winner, you should have received an email from the author in charge of the giveaway. If not, please email us at: prizes at inspyromance dot com.
Jan Thompson’s winner was Sally Shupe!
Lindi Peterson’s winner was Meylinda!
Laurie Larsen’s winner was Trudy!
Melanie Snitker’s winner was Ellie!
Lee Tobin McClain’s winners were Ellie and Lelia (Lucy) Reynolds!
Toni Shiloh’s winner was Tammy Francis!
Elizabeth Maddrey’s winner were Nicole and Teri!
Congratulations!
Don’t forget… every comment you make qualifies you to win one of the monthly Amazon card giveaways!
Specials this Week
Seized by Laurie Larsen is 99c through to July 23!
More Than a Tiara by Valerie Comer is FREE through to July 25!
Other Than a Halo by Valerie Comer is 99c through to July 26!
Wish You Joy by Jan Thompson is 99c through to July 25!
A Sidelined Christmas by Toni Shiloh is FREE through to July 25!
Deck the Shelves by Toni Shiloh is 99c through to July 25!
Operation Mistletoe by Elizabeth Maddrey is FREE through to July 25!
Hope for Christmas by Elizabeth Maddrey is 99c through to July 26!
Reader Gathering
Did you know Inspy Romance hosts a Christian Romance Reader Gathering group on Facebook? Join us… but don’t forget to answer the questions for admittance!
Have you seen our Back List Book Club in Christian Romance Reader Gathering? During July we’re featuring books from Jaycee Weaver and Ginger Solomon.
Last Week on Inspy Romance
On Monday, Shannon Taylor Vannatter talked about Starting a New Series
On Tuesday, Laurie Larsen suggested we Try the Chocolate!
On Wednesday, Hallee Bridgeman shared an Interview with Lee Tobin McClain: Writing An Autistic Character (+ giveaway)
On Thursday, Elizabeth Maddrey discussed What do you mean by “realistic” fiction? (+ giveaway)
On Friday, Jaycee Weaver shared her experiences mountain climbing to The Summit
On Saturday, Deb Kastner asked the question: Why Christmas in July?
Next Week on Inspy Romance
Monday: Sally Bayless
Tuesday: Autumn Macarthur
Wednesday: Valerie Comer
Thursday: Staci Stallings
Friday: Mary Manners
Saturday: Jackie Castle
New Releases
July 2019
Starting Anew (Life Unexpected 3) by Melanie D. Snitker
At First Spark (The Spark Brothers 4) by Liwen Y. Ho
Seized (Murrells Inlet Miracles 5) by Laurie Larsen
My Wayfaring Billionaire (Grimwood Legacy 3) by Jackie Castle
August 2019
Her Forgotten Cowboy (Cowboy Country) by Deb Kastner
Call You Home (Savannah Sweethearts 10) by Jan Thompson
Moments: Savannah Sweethearts Books 9-10 & Bonus Novel (Savannah Sweethearts Boxed Set 4) by Jan Thompson
Choose Me (Chapel Cove Romances 4) by Marion Ueckermann
A complete list of Inspy Romance books by our authors is always available on our BOOKS tab. Find our audiobooks, our permanently free e-books, and our thank-you gifts for newsletter subscribers there as well!
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
We celebrated it once in our church (I was sick) It was mostly done because our pastor had spent a year as an exchange student in Pennsylvania. I know many clubs have it here. If we had snow it would be nice to do here but as its cold and wet not so keen on it. Also I am not a real fan of Roast turkey or ham which is what is normally served at Christmas time.
Although if it made me think of our warm summer Christmas right now I could handle that.
Hi Narelle, we don’t celebrate Christmas in July- mostly because we are busy with school and other things. I have to confess that while it would be fun to experience a white, cold Christmas, for me Christmas is about BBQ’s and the beach- Aussie summer:)
Blessings:)
That’s an interesting article about Christmas in July. I think a Christmas in July themed party could be fun!
Hi Jenny, I have celebrated Christmas in July in previous years, but without the snow. It’s not often that we see snow in Canberra in July, and if it does snow here it’s more likely to be in August. Yes, the thought of hot weather is appealing right now, lol. Stay warm. :)
Hi Wemble, I hope you’ve enjoyed your school holidays winter break. We’re back to school tomorrow. Yes, I’d also love to experience a white Christmas somewhere. I’ve wanted to visit Lapland after reading Poles Apart by Marion Ueckermann. Europe vs. US/Canada for a white Christmas – a difficult decision! Blessings. :)
Hi Ellie, Christmas in July is fun! I hope you’ll have an opportunity to celebrate it one year. The history at the Camp in North Carolina is fascinating. Summer Camps aren’t as popular here in Australia. One reason is that we have a much shorter six weeks summer school holidays break from Christmas to early February. :)
I live in Florida, and the only way we celebrate Christmas in July is the marketing and sales!! I’d love to have a White Christmas sometime, but it won’t be while living in FL!! Our temps at Christmas in December can range from the 60’s to the low 90’s during the day, just depends! There have been times we’ve gotten together for Christmas that the kids would all be in the pool to cool off, and times when they’d want to be in the pool and shiver going in and coming out, and they’d use the outside shower on hot to warm up before drying off to come back in the house!! It’s hard for me to think of Christmas when our feel like temp outside is triple digits with the heat index!!
We don’t really celebrate Christmas in July in Canada, at least not around here. It’s more of an online marketing thing to me.
My extended family celebrated it in 1985, though! Three of my four sisters raised their families overseas in mission work, all in different countries. In July, 1985, they were all able to visit at the same time for the first time since, well, ever. My (local) sister and I put on Christmas in July. She decorated for Christmas, the kids exchanged names for gifts, we got everyone stockings (not sure where we found them in July…) and had a carol sing and turkey dinner. It was fun! But it was an exception, not the rule.
Hi Trudy, I have great memories of swimming in the ocean with my sister and cousins on Christmas Day after our big family lunch. My coldest Christmas Day was in Melbourne when my children were babies. That particular summer didn’t start to warm up until January. I imagine parts of Florida would be similar to Australia at Christmas time. :)
Hi Valerie, Your 1985 Christmas in July family celebration sounded like a lot of fun! We sometimes celebrate a second Christmas in January when we see family from interstate. It’s tricky to organise these things when our families live miles away from each other. :)
No Christmas in July here. To busy working in my yard and garden and canning.
Yes, Florida would be like Australia! And, I live near Melbourne, FL!! I had to remember that you meant Melbourne, Australia!!
Hi Lucy, yes, it’s a busy time of year for you. :)
Lol! The weather in Melbourne FL is much warmer in winter than in Melbourne, Australia. :)
yes, it is, and my “winter” never lasts long enough for me!! We have been known to get down to the teens in January, but that’s few and far between!!!
Congratulations to the winners!