The Trio & Me

15. Celebrate Christmas in July 🎄

My 40 things to do before I turn 40 list includes moments that are less about “doing” and more about creating space for connection, tradition, and meaning – and this was one of them.

Whilst our Christmas last year was wonderful, in the middle of the South Pacific on a cruise ship where we were waited on, we ate and drunk far too much (and didn’t have the clean up!) there truly was no better way that we could have spent our Christmas together. We did, however, reflect that it felt different – beautiful still, but just different. Because we were away over Christmas, we didn’t get the chance to have our usual home Christmas with all its familiar traditions, decorations, and rhythms. 

This year, that reflection led us to celebrate Christmas in July instead, intentionally recreating those rituals in a different season.

We leaned fully into the experience across the month. We baked all the Christmas goodies, spent time decorating, put our Christmas tree up, listened to Christmas music, did arts and crafts, and made a point of watching Christmas movies together. The house felt festive, and there was something really grounding about slowing down and intentionally choosing to recreate those familiar traditions outside of December.

There was also, of course, plenty of food – probably too much (the usual “December” feelings of overindulging) – but it added to the sense of celebration and togetherness. More than anything though, it became a month focused on intentional family time. In the middle of everyday life, it created space for connection, laughter, and shared experiences that we might otherwise rush past. 

We also invited our friends over to share in the Xmas joy – A time for reconnection, that is often reserved for December, but why not celebrate anytime. It made us really think about how important social connections are, and how blessed we are to have the very best people in our village. 

We ended our Christmas in July celebrations with a simple Secret Santa. Each person bought just one gift for someone else and received one in return. No pressure, no big expenses, just something thoughtful and personal. It kept the focus on giving and connection rather than anything excessive or stressful.

What I didn’t expect was how meaningful it would feel to recreate Christmas outside of December. It wasn’t about replacing the “real” thing, but about extending it – giving ourselves another opportunity to slow down, reconnect, and enjoy the traditions we usually rush through at the end of the year.

Celebrating Christmas this way has become something I’ll genuinely cherish, and I can see it becoming a tradition we continue every July going forward.

🤍 K