[troutman]

Hi all,
When we lived in Palmerston North in the late 80's, shops were adorned with decorations, shop windows were sprayed with snow and there were carols playing, in June!
Something to do with ex-pats I believe.
Do they still do that over there?


Dave and Linda

[IanW99]

Hi all,
When we lived in Palmerston North in the late 80's, shops were adorned with decorations, shop windows were sprayed with snow and there were carols playing, in June!
Something to do with ex-pats I believe.
Do they still do that over there?


Dave and Linda

Not really noticed too many decorations being put up for this, but you would still find plenty of decorations that haven't been taken down since the real one :yes

The shops tend to have a small section which sells christmas things again for those that do celebrate it.

Our local club also has a big party each mid-winter christmas, any excuse for a party :cheers

I'm sure that some communities celebrate this more than others though.

Ian

[Genie]

This might sound an odd question but what do they call it?? Un-Christmas? Cool yule? Just curious what it's been labelled as:)

[Caroline and Dave]

We've noticed this everywhere in Auckland. Lots of restaurants doing mid winter Xmas dinner etc and some shops even have Xmas trees.Our local warehouse have Xmas decorations Seems very strange . So in fact New Zealand get 2 Xmas's a year.

[willsken]

A friend of mine (ex pat here for the last 20 years) has a big celebration, cooks a Christmas dinner the lot..... might try to wrangle an invite this year! :yes

[KerryS]

We have a midwinter Christmas dinner - I love cooking piles of food for eating in the cold. Chestnuts and mince pies, yum! I started my pudding last week, and my mince meat has been made too. I've been asked to make a chocolate log this year as well, which will probably be my undoing, as I can never roll them without breakages...

We don't do presents, a tree or anything like that, but do dress the table and drink lots of port and warm punch.

[Moorf]

Oh yes! Mid-Winter Xmas is a big event in our house - we celebrate with friends and have a table creaking with food and small gifts for the kids, port round the fire and some twinkling lights :clap Can't wait.... might even get snow!!!

[dilanium]

Wow, a real Xmas in July... Sounds fun!!!

[kowhai]

Pre - children , a gang of us would regularly head for the mountains / ranges and enjoy a mid winter Christmas party in a DOC hut, surrounded by snow. Highly recommend.

[benandclare]

Hi Folks

We arrived in NZ on Aug 23rd so thought we would have that as our 'kiwi Xmas' dinner date with a few friends and all the trimmings, Plus my son and Mum will be joining us this year so will make it a good first year anniversary . We are also up for a midwinter 'Xmas type' comp at the golf club - plus the skiing should make for a great 'pseudo Crimble' :)

Clare :cheers

[Leccy-Lee]

I was thinking about this just the other day, it would be great, i really did miss the Christmassy feel of a cold night and all thats right about Xmas in the winter.
Maybe i can hang a bit of tinsel from my van, that'll confuse the boss!

[melly]

The term used in Oz and NZ for this 'mid-winter christmas' celebration is 'Christmas in July'. It is not overly common in Oz as it still isn't really cold enough.

[Den]

Well we have been picking walnuts! Just need to get some nut crackers! I heard that a lot celebrate this mid winter xmas dinner.....when is the exact date in July?

[Caroline and Dave]

Well, I am not sure of the exact date but I am booked for a Mid Winter Xmas concert on the 3rd July and another on the 10th July at a couple of retirement homes.At least its spread out, not like America who have thanksgiving day followed a month later by Xmas Day.

[Kate D]

Sounds like a great idea! I'd love to cook a goose and do all the trimmings and have a bunch of peopls over. It'd be deliciously unexpected to dig out Delia's Christmas book in July!

Hmm, maybe I better start looking up Christmas pud recipes now! Yum, yum...

[JandM]

Does anybody know why it's in July? When I first ever heard about Midwinter Christmas, I assumed it would be on June 25th, or 21st for the solstice.

[KerryS]

We don't have ours in July - it's on 21st June for the winter solstice and the shortest day celebration.