Apparently no one really knows how the Christmas in July tradition began.

It’s thought that it might have originated in the Northern Hemisphere when the summer is in full swing and people are craving cooler temperatures. According to www.theholidayspot.com “this untimely Christmas festival is also often ascribed to a group of Irish tourists who went for a vacation in Sydney’s Blue Mountains in the summer months of July in 1980. Away from the summer temperatures in their country, they were overjoyed at the sight of snow there. It is believed that they convinced the proprietor of a local hotel in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales to hold a party called “Yulefest”.

The idea was an instant hit and caught on the imagination of everyone present there. The proprietor saw a golden opportunity in this and henceforth held a Christmas Party each year in July. The local businessmen too jumped in to cash in on this unique festival and it continues to this day.

Today, the tradition is so well entrenched in Australia that most restaurants, clubs and dining halls, have an official advertised annual catered menu for Christmas in July.”

Whatever the origins of this July celebration, Community Care has long provided seniors with a turkey dinner and all the trimmings at a Christmas in July event. This is a great opportunity for people to give one of our curbside pick-up meals a try. It’s where seniors in The County can enjoy great food prepared by Bill & Marni Grieve of Wheelhouse and Occasions Catering. Consider this my personal invitation to you to join Community Care for Christmas in July curbside pick-up meal on Thursday, July 27th, 2023. Chef Bill Grieve of Wheelhouse and Occasions Catering is preparing a scrumptious Christmas turkey dinner with all the trimmings. The meal includes homemade soup, a roll, roast turkey with dressing, cranberry sauce, seasonal vegetables, and pumpkin pie. The cost is $18/meal and seniors 60+ can order by calling the Community Care office at 613-476-7493. All meals must be paid for in advance. Meals will be packaged hot and ready to be picked up at Ameliasburgh Town Hall, 13 Coleman Street, Ameliasburgh. Only those who preorder and pay will be served. To order, or for more information, call 613-476-7493. Orders will be taken until Monday, July 24th, 2023.

Before the pandemic we’d hold dinners in the municipal Town Halls where seniors could gather to have a nice meal and enjoy being together. Some people already knew each other and some didn’t. These events were about the socializing just as much as about the food. During the pandemic we couldn’t hold these get-togethers so we moved the meals to a curbside pick-up method. This has proven to be very attractive to many people and for that reason we’re continuing to offer such meals even while we’re making plans to reinstate the meals in Town Halls.

Watch for more information on this.

-Debbie MacDonald Moynes