July 09, 2019

Christmas in July

If you are over our way in the Southern Hemisphere, you know that there’s a lot to love about having Christmas in the summertime — from beach holidays, pool parties and BBQs, to having the kids home from school and starting the New Year with the invigoration that comes from brighter days.
But, the downside is that we miss out on having that classic Christmas experience that we see in all the movies. While we love the sun, there’s just something about those snowflakes and sleigh rides that just seems so undeniably magical! This is why we love Christmas in July parties: it’s our chance to enjoy all the things that we usually miss out on. This winter, we invite you to trade in the prawns for a leg of ham, pour yourself a spicy mulled wine and break out your favourite ugly sweater for your very own Christmas in July party. Not sure where to start? Here are our tips:

Set the scene

Get creative! There’s no need to hunt down a Christmas tree or dig up that plastic one from the garage. Instead, dress up your houseplants with tinsel, hang a few baubles, and string fairy lights around window frames. A few cheap party purchases like festive coloured table cloths, napkins and cups (reusable or recyclable, of course!) will go a long way to bringing that Christmas spirit. And don’t forget to prep your playlist with swinging Christmas tunes.

The menu

Now is the time to indulge in all those delicious Christmas treats it’s usually too hot for us to enjoy. Think spice maple glazed ham or, for the veggies out there, try this delicious green bean casserole. Opt for classic sides like mashed potato and gravy, or try something a little more weird and wonderful like candied yams (you can swap out the yams for sweet potatoes). For dessert, stick with tradition and try this Spice eggnog pumpkin pie, or a Christmas pudding.

To drink

A warm, spicy concoction is just the thing to get cheeks rosy on these wintry nights. You cannot go wrong with a pot of mulled wine or, for something non-alcoholic, we love this mulled cranberry apple cider. Hot tip: this virgin cider is a great winter warmer for your Fressko Flask, so make sure to brew extra and enjoy this spicy sip for the week to come.

Make it fun

Now that you’ve set the scene and laid the table, just a few simple activities are all it will take to make sure your guests are truly in the swing of things! Request that everybody come in their most ugly Christmas sweater, or come dressed-up as their favourite Christmas character. Host a silly Secret Santa or Kris Kringle gift exchange and, after everyone’s had a few glasses of that mulled wine, try a game of Christmas charades where players try to guess classic Christmas movies or carols.

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