Yes, Christmas in Australia is celebrated in the middle of summer, meaning hot, sunny weather, beaches, and barbecues replace the snowy, cold traditions of the Northern Hemisphere. Australians enjoy outdoor celebrations like beach picnics, backyard BBQs, and seafood for Christmas lunch, often with a Pavlova for dessert instead of plum pudding, all while embracing the warm, festive summer holiday season.
In Australia, Christmas comes in the towards the beginning of the summer holidays! Children have their summer holidays from mid December to early February, so some people might even be camping at Christmas. Because it's so hot at Christmas time in Australia, there are quite often massive bush fires across the country.
December to February is summer; March to May is autumn; June to August is winter; and September to November is spring. Plan ahead with this information on weather and rainfall in Australia's capital cities.
In Australia, Santa Claus brings the gifts on the night of 24-25 December. Why is Christmas celebrated in Australia in summer? Since Australia is in the Earth's southern hemisphere, the seasons are exactly the opposite of the European ones. This means that December is summer in Australia.
Australians celebrate Christmas in July (Yulefest) to enjoy traditional winter festivities, like roasts and cozy fires, which contrast with their December Christmas, which is hot and summery, reflecting their British/European heritage and desire for a "winter wonderland" experience with traditional foods and decorations during the Southern Hemisphere's coldest month. This mid-year celebration offers a fun excuse for gatherings, attracts tourism to cooler regions, and provides a break from the December heat and stress, allowing for hearty feasting and themed parties.
Christmas in July began in 1933 at Keystone Camp in Brevard, North Carolina, thanks to the whimsical spirit of camp co-founder Fannie Holt. The camp's celebration included carols, Santa, cotton snow, and creative gifts, making midsummer feel magical.
Where Did Christmas in July Come From? A summer camp in North Carolina is widely credited as the originator of Christmas in July. The holiday is now part of pop culture as a fun way to extend the festive spirit during the summer months, especially in the Southern Hemisphere.
While Christmas is during the winter in the northern hemisphere, it is during the summer in the southern hemisphere.
For most of Australia, July is the coldest month, averaging the lowest temperatures despite the winter solstice occurring in June; it takes time for the land and oceans to fully cool, pushing the coldest period into July and sometimes early August, especially in southern regions, while mountainous areas see their coldest snaps then for snow.
Australian Santa 🎅
Australia's Santa is often depicted with a surfboard. Oh, and if that wasn't funny enough, he's normally wearing some shorts and sunglasses! Talk about arriving in style.
The seasons in Australia include the following months:
Snow has been recorded in every state and territory, though among the state capitals only Canberra, Hobart and Melbourne have recorded snow. However it is much more common in the regional areas, with the cities of Orange and Ballarat featuring annual snowfalls and populations of over 40,000 and 120,000 respectively.
Summer: December - February
It's also stinger season on the Great Barrier Reef, meaning snorkellers and divers are required to wear full-body wetsuits. In the outback, daytime temperatures will soar.
While there's no specific global date for 'Christmas in July,' different countries and individuals embrace this tradition throughout the month of July. Some countries celebrate it on July 25th, in honor of the Christian feast day of St. James the Greater.
There are many ways to celebrate Christmas in July including a small and intimate lunch, a large dinner with family and friends, a trivia night with work colleagues, movie marathons with the kids, or even a festive dress-up party – all of which are sure to lift everyone's spirits at the coldest time of the year.
Australia has warmed on average by 1.51 ± 0.23 °C since 1910, with most warming occurring since 1950 and every decade since then being warmer than the ones before.
While several places get extremely hot, Onslow in Western Australia shares the record for Australia's highest temperature ever recorded (50.7°C in 2022), and Marble Bar, also in WA, is famous as "Australia's Hottest Town" for its record-breaking 160 consecutive days over 37.7°C (100°F) in 1923-24. The Pilbara region, where these towns are located, consistently experiences Australia's most extreme heat.
Winter, or June, July, and August, is generally the cheapest time of year to visit Australia. Because of cooler temperatures, domestic and international tourism tends to drop. So winter could also be called "off-season".
Many Aussies, in particular those ex-northern hemisphere residents, thought something was needed to brighten up the winter months. This is where the concept of 'Christmas in July' comes in. It is usually celebrated on 25th July and is getting more and more popular as the years go by!
Was Jesus actually born in June? The exact birthday of Jesus is not known and doesn't appear in the Christian Bible, but it is estimated that Jesus was born between 6 and 4 B.C., due to the Biblical story of King Herod the Great's reign, which coincides with the birth of Christ.
In the Northern Hemisphere, December is winter, and in the Southern Hemisphere, it's summer. So, when it's December here (in the Northern Hemisphere), it's the middle of summer in places like Australia and Argentina.
That's why there's 'Christmas in July', which is also known as Yulefest or Yuletide in Australia. July is generally the coldest month of winter, so celebrations emulate the atmosphere of the northern hemisphere winter. So that means hearty food like roasts, and warm drinks in front of fireplaces and bonfires.
Christmas Eve, the day before Christmas Day, is always on the 24th of December. In 2025, that means it's going to fall on a Tuesday, so you could be looking at a long weekend of festivities. There's nothing quite like the excited anticipation that fills the air on Christmas Eve, it's practically electric!