CHRISTMAS IN JULY?

"Christmas in July", an alternative holiday on many calendars, is generally considered a great excuse to organize a mid-summer party.

Conceived in America as a superb marketing opportunity, (it's a wonderful occasion designed to fill the coffers of barbecued beef, ice-cream, and beer producers plus a whole whack of professional party planners and more than a few 'naughty and nice' nightclubs. Other ripsnorting retailers such as the popular television shopping channels not to mention appliance, furniture, and mattress mega-stores as well as jewellery and electronics stores and car dealers, have also decided to cash in on the summer sizzle by luring consumers inside with special "hot deals" on "cool stuff"!

Speaking of "cool stuff", apparently McMurdo Station in Antarctica celebrates Christmas twice a year -- once in July, and again in December. Since July is the middle of winter in Antarctica and dangerous conditions such as high winds and ice once made difficult to land with supplies, food and mail were often parachuted and mail) to the ice; the sudden arrival in July of presents from the sky reminded some people of a "visit from Santa."

It is usually celebrated around July 26, which incidentally coincides with the feast day of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne (the grandparents of a Christian icon named Jesus).

NOTE: It's a great time of year to give away those gaudy gifts (like the ridiculous Santa Claus tie from an admiring co-worker, the wretched Christmas sweater from Aunt Matilda, or the Christmas cookie-cutters from your household pet!)

Forget for those frigging picnics in the woods with the black flies, the mosquitoes and the bears!

And, while you're at it, why not take a pass on the boring beach barbecue and second-rate fireworks at dusk!

It's time to think about something bold and cold! How about organizing a "Christmas in July party"! After all, isn't it time to let your "inner Santa Claus" come out and play?

1. Pick a day and invite your friends to play at your "Summer Santa Potluck Party". Write your guest list and invite at least 8 folks who'll get in the spirit with costumes, a sunny disposition, and bring along some funny novelty items (for the gift exchange naturally)!

2. Instead of hot mulled wine...try your favorite wine cooler or make "sangria" (red wine, ice-cubes, mixed fresh fruit and juice). Replace the roast pig, goose or turkey with barbecued turkey dogs.

3. Pimp your backyard with red and white streamers or balloons, put up oodles of twinkling Christmas lights, and haul out that fake tree...cause it's time for everyone to decorate it with funky things you'd never expect to see on a tree.

4. And don't forget the party favors -- hats, red noses, candles, stockings filled with nuts, gum, candies, and maybe even a few Chinese fortune cookies thrown in for good measure!

5. Organize a few games ...let's see there's the garbage bag sack race, limbo (with some hot music), charades, and of course what would be party be without a visit from the guest of honor "Summer Santa"!

Did you know that there are more than one million web pages are devoted to topic "Christmas in July"?

Here are some baffling and bemusing bits of bumpf to warm the cockles of your heart while you sip on your 'Long Island Iced-Tea' or a cold brewski!

1. "Christmas in July" is the title of a Harlequin romance novel written in 1996 by Leanna Wilson; it's also the title of another paperback book written by Hank Nicol and published in 2003, and it's the title of an article by Peter Gilmour, appearing in "Odds & Ends" section of the U.S. Catholic published on July 1, 2003.

2. "Christmas in July" is the title of a 1940 film comedy, (only 67 minutes long starring Dick Powell and Ellen Drew).

3. Rudolph-the-Red-Nosed-Reindeer and Frosty-the-Snowman teamed up to make a 1979 animated film entitled...you guessed it, "Christmas in July".

4. You'll never be down-in-the-dumps at this downunder spot, the Blue Mountains Yulefest", a Captain Cook Chritmas in July Lunch Cruise.

5. Quirky is as quirky does, and at ChristmasInJuly.org they hold their major benefit event at "Pop's Place" in May!

6. Not all the red hats belong to a huge ho-ho-ho hunk with a white beard! Here are a few Playful Party Ideas from a group of ripsnorting red-hatters!

7. What would a "Christmas in July" party be without a little fake snow and here's a great way to make it!

8. Bet you didn't know that a Sufjan Stevens recorded a song titled "Christmas in July" not to mention another Brazilian vocalist by the name of, Lori Mechem, who recorded "Seems Like Christmas in July"!

9. Christmas comes twice a year, so why not head on over to South Africa to enjoy this fabulous black tie & champagne charity event.

10. Get a head start on your Christmas card greetings, send an e-postcard of you relaxing with Santa at the beach, and sign it..."Eat Your Heart Out...Wish You Were Here!" ...or kick back at "A Dickens of a Christmas" in July at the Crescent Hotel & Spa in Eureka Springs, Arizona.

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Illustration Insert Credit: 123Greetings.com.

-- "I stripped down to the "bare" essentials 'cause I thought this was a Polar Bear Party!"

-- "Sorry, we don't have a mistletoe, but if you can name all of Santa's reindeers, I'll give you a big fat kiss on your forehead!"

-- "Eggnog? How do you make eggnog? Maybe you should just quit with the "Ho Ho Ho and a bottle of rum" and join the rest of us in singing "99 bottles of beer on the wall!"

-- "If you're looking for Snow White, you've come to the wrong party!"

-- "You want snow...in the office...like a blizzard...let me check the OH&S regulations."

-- "Forget about the milk and cookies honey, where's my pina colada?"

-- "Blame it on the elves...it's all their fault!"

-- "What do you mean you don't have any Christmas stockings hung by the children with care in hopes that Summer Santa would be there?"

-- "Look, just because I can walk on water doesn't mean I have to help you make peppermint ice-cream too!"

-- "Say, who's that dude with a long white beard, water wings, and a pair of red web-feet?"

-- "Okay, so tell me again how you got those honking great antlers and that blinking red nose?"

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Photo Insert Credit: cplescia's photostream on flickr.com

Let's face it, ice, snow, and cold don't make for great games unless you're a red-nosed reindeer with a penchant for pucks.

On the other hand, summertime and some creativity are all the ingredients you need to hold "Summer Santa's Scavenger Hunt".

So, what are you waiting for? Why not organize this event to keep all the beach bunnies and beach boys you know happy?

The purpose of a "scavenger" hunt is for the participants (either individuals or teams) to seek and find a number of specific items, or perform physical or mental tasks, or photograph/videotape stunts/people/places as given in a list within a defined period of time.

And, your job is to create the list. It's up to you to come up with some crazy things or places to visit that silly Summer Santa might put on his "to do" list, or find some wacky presents that grown-ups or kids might ask him to deliver under the twig tree!

Then, make sure that your participants have a pencil, piece of paper, and a cell-phone camera, a digital camera or a camcorder.

As for prizes, let's see...what about this selection: a brightly decorated sack of sand, a brightly decorated box of sand-dollars, shells or stones, a brightly decorated bag of odd remnants found on the seashore. If these don't turn your crank, how about picking up some Christmas cast-offs...ugly sweaters, shoes, or sweat-shirts!

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Image Credit: Helene Weston@flickr.com

Did you know that you can donate to a special charity devoted to supporting special little heroes ...the children of fallen U.S. troops.

"Operation Ensuring Christmas", a tax exempt non-profit organization now offers a magical moment to some special children, "Christmas in July", a VIP Vacation Program to Disneyland (available to children throughout the year).