I've got some good news and some bad news. First, the good news - Americans now have another unofficial holiday to celebrate during the summer season. Now, the bad news - "Christmas in July" provides just one more reason for many Americans to rack up debt and confuse their kids.

I wasn't aware that Christmas in July was such a huge event until a Wikipedia entry caught my eye. The problem with this article is that it's not fully cited, it's unclear, and it doesn't explain how this holiday began. No matter how this holiday started, it's here in a big way. You can find free Christmas in July e-Cards that you can push onto friends and family. Online stores also offer Christmas in July home decorations and sales. And, you can find many arts fairs across the country where you can buy your Christmas gifts in July and beat the holiday rush.

Perhaps this holiday began in Australia, where mid-winter falls during the American mid-summer. Maybe the folks down under wanted to replicate a winter-like feel to their festivities and somehow it spread to America. Or maybe it began when Americans began to lust after winter weather during summer's dead heat. Then again, perhaps it started when retailers realized they could try to recreate the same shopping frenzy in July that occurs during November and December if they appealed to the American desire for holiday cheer.

I can understand why Californians might fall for Christmas in July, as the weather in that state doesn't change much year-round. But, I don't understand why some Alaskans would want to celebrate Christmas in July, unless it's because the Grand Marshall for this event wants to wear an elf suit. But this holiday isn't localized, as you can find Christmas movies on the Lifetime Movie Network every night in July at 8 p.m. Lifetime will kick this Christmas focus into high gear with a 40-movie holiday marathon that airs 14-15 July.

Most sites and news articles about Christmas in July seem to focus on that 14-15 July weekend. But, those dates are nebulous, as Cowboy Christmas begins at the end of June and lasts through the weekend after Independence Day. The Norwalk, Connecticut Christmas in July lands on 21-22 July. You can even combine Independence Day with Christmas if you so desire. Just drape some red, white, and blue bunting on that fir tree out back.

Ok, I'll back off and try to see the positives to this situation:

1. You'll never need to pack up those Christmas decorations.
   
   
2. You have a new reason to use up some vacation days.
   
   
3. You get gifts, if anyone else wants to play along.
   
   
4. If you're worried about leaving someone out if they belong to another faith, don't worry. I searched online for "Kwanzaa in July" and got results. Plus, summer solstice is at the end of June, so that's close enough for pagans to join in the festivities.

Surely those good points cannot outweigh the bad. Or can they? I have yet to find a negative article, commentary, or opinion about Christmas in July, so I don't have anything to go on but my own thoughts:

As shown above, I guess the plusses equal the minuses in this situation; but somehow I feel that something isn't quite right with this holiday. Perhaps another way to put this "fake" event into perspective is to find those retailers who feel they need to sell merchandise under the auspices of Christmas during July, and then check out their standing on the stock market. Are they in trouble? Have they overstocked, or is the merchandise simply not moving? Is Christmas in July just another means to help you spend your money, or is it a signal that the retail industry isn't quite right?

I just know that I'm not celebrating, so call me Scrooge in July.

Until Next Week,
Linda Goin