Ever wondered why we celebrate Christmas in July? It’s not just that we want decadent food, drinks and presents twice a year…there are many theories as to how this holiday originated, from French Opera to a North Carolina girls’ camp in the 1930s.
In Australia, the birth of the mid-Winter celebration reportedly originated in the 1980s in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, where visiting Irish tourists saw snowfall and were reminded of Christmases spent back in Ireland.
Feeling homesick, they convinced the owner of the Mountain Heritage Hotel to throw an event called ‘Yulefest’, to celebrate Christmas the way they remembered it. Word spread like a bush fire and soon all of the Blue Mountains region was joining in.
Grab your family and friends for a festive feast this July and bring out that Christmas sweater more than once a year with these four venues:
Dine in sweeping countryside landscapes at Restaurant @ Glen Erin at Lancefield on Rochford Road in Lancefield. Offering sophistication, warmth and the friendliness of a true country retreat, relax inside in front of open fires in Winter, or on the terrace during warmer months with picturesque views over the vineyard.
Join the fun on Sunday, July 23 when there are Christmas carols to be sung and festive joy to be had over a three-course lunch with drinks and mulled wine included, along with live music from the King of Blue Jazz duo.
Experience all the magic of Christmas in July with menus designed for all your festive occasions from themed canapés right through to hot buffets from The Roo Brothers Catering on Reserve Road in Artarmon.
Expect a curated warming feast to enjoy with your nearest and dearest, available for lunch and dinner, including traditional mulled wine and dishes like roast stuffed turkey with cranberry sherry jus, honey and orange glazed leg ham and slow-roasted beef, roast potatoes with sea salt, garlic and rosemary and Shiraz jus.
Situated on the banks of the Macleay River, The Garden Kitchen & Bar on Remembrance Way offers a stunning dining experience with some of the best food in Kempsey. Housed in the Old Cheese Factory, this restaurant has been beautifully refurbished to accommodate any function large or small; from laid-back lunches to late-night wining and dining.
Bring the family on Thursday, July 20 for lunch or dinner for Christmas fare such as prawns, scallops and saffron aioli, followed by sirloin of beef, pommes Anna, beef jus, caramelised onion and mushrooms; finish festively with apple crumble trifle, custard and cream.
Deck the halls and gather your friends for Christmas in July luncheon at Rawsons on Rawson Street in Epping. Located in The Epping Club, this restaurant celebrates honest, seasonal food with a whimsical twist from an ever-changing menu in stylish and relaxed surrounds of contemporary textiles, prints and an abundance of natural light.
Book your table for Sunday, July 16 and devour starters like creamy mackerel pâté, cream cheese, capers, horseradish and crisp sourdough, followed by sage-rubbed crispy pork belly, quince glaze, roasted heirloom honey carrots and fennel. Gingerbread trifle completes the meal.
