The 1892
opera, Werther by Jules Massenet included a scene of children rehearsing a
Christmas song in July. The character’s response—“When you sing Christmas in
July, you rush the season.”
I think
we crave the goodwill and congenial feelings that are epitomized during the
holiday season. So what is the history of Christmas in July? Is it more than a
marketing sales tool?
- 1933 – Camp
Keystone, a girls summer camp in North Carolina, celebrated with a
Christmas tree, presents, and a visit from Saint Nick. Perhaps the girls,
who only see each other during the summer wanted to chance to celebrate
the holiday with the unique summer camp family.
- 1940 – The
concept was given national attention in the Hollywood movie, Christmas in July
with Dick Powell and Ellen Drew. In this story takes place in July, Dick
Powell’s character is led to believe he’s won $25,000 in an advertising
slogan contest. He buys presents for family, friends, and proposes to his
girlfriend played by Ellen Drew.
- 1942 – The
Calvary Baptist Church in Washington D.C., celebrated Christmas in July
with carols and the sermon Christmas Presents in July. It garnered an
outpouring of donations. The program was held each summer.
- 1944 – The U.S.
Post Office and U.S. Army and Navy promoted Christmas in July as an early
mailing campaign for service men and women overseas during World War II.
- Today – American
advertisers have been using the Christmas in July theme since 1950. We can
find re-runs of Christmas programs on television and many stores run
sales.
- My offering for
Christmas in July? Happily Ever After
He was the
cause of her fall from literary stardom until he became her salvation.
From a
fall from literary stardom to becoming the heroine in her own romance story,
Beth Holmes has turned around her career and her love life. She owes it all to
one very special person.
Jarred
Watson has loved Beth since he read her first novel and suspected the heroine
was the embodiment of the author. But the road to romance was fraught with
pitfalls. He almost lost everything because of a conniving agent and a little
white lie that got out of hand. At the eleventh hour, with honesty and hard
work, their book sales are off the charts and a movie deal is in negotiations.
Interfering
families and changed plans take their toll. Will they go their separate ways or
will Holmes and Watson continue their literary collaboration and personal
partnership in order to find their own happily ever after?
Available at Amazon iBook B&N Kobo
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