History of Christmas-in-July at the North Pole
Christmas-in-July has begun at the North Pole and there are activities going on everywhere. Christmas-in-July is a time of both celebration and preparation at the North Pole.
Santa this year has asked elves to have their vacations done before July. There are a few exceptions, of course, both have honored that request. Christmas-in-July this year is kind of like a homecoming for elves. This year has been different in that a lot of elves have not seen a lot of each other, due to Toyvember being called early and going on for such a long time. That kept elves away from each other.
Some of that was by design. Santa is doing all he can to keep Covid-19 at bay, you see. But now that vacations are over, and the isolation of winter and spring are passed, the world of elves at the North Pole is gathering all month long for Christmas-in-July.
There is not only serious fun going on, though. There are work events going on too. Every department is back to work, and some of them are pretty busy. With supplies being stocked up all winter elves are now free to begin their work. Also, July is a time when a focus is made on making Santa flight-ready. So the sleigh will start test flights and that, of course, means we’ve got some reindeer back in town.
This year, like so much of the last few years, is a bit different, due to world conditions. So Christmas-in-July is kind of a bigger deal than usual.
How did it become such a big deal? That was the topic of a chat recently held with Elf Dr. Grant Smedley of Southern North Pole University, who talked of the history of Christmas-in-July at the North Pole. Below is a transcript of that chat. It’s a fascinating read, you’ll learn a lot!
| Elf Ernest | Hello everyone! Our chat will begin at the top of the hour |
| Elf Ernest | Dr. Smedley has a limited amount of time and a big story to tell |
| Elf Hannah | Hello! |
| Elf Ernest | I will be holding a brief conversation with him to begin with and then we will open up the chat to questions |
| Elf Ulan | Hi Elf Ernest! Okay! Thank you! |
| Elf Ernest | Hi Elf Hannah and Elf Ulan |
| Elf Snow Burn | Hi |
| Elf Ulan | Hi Elf Hannah! |
| Elf Ernest | Dr. Smedley will be joining us shortly |
| hi | hi guys! |
| hi | 😀 |
| Elf Ernest | Hello hi |
| Elf Ulan | Hello! |
| Elf Hannah | Hi Elf Ulan! |
| Elf Ernest | Just by way of introduction, Elf Dr. Grant Smedley is a professor of North Pole and Santa Claus history at Southern North Pole University |
| Elf Ernest | Dr. Smedley’s topic today will be the History of Christmas in July at the North Pole |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Hello, Elf Ernest. I am here now. |
| Elf Ernest | Hello, Dr. Smedley! Thank you for joining us today |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | It is always a pleasure to visit. |
| Elf Ulan | Hello Dr, Smedley! |
| Elf Ernest | As you know we are about to kick off Christmas in July festivities at the North Pole |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Yes, that’s correct |
| Elf Hannah | Nice to meet you elf Dr. Smedley! |
| Elf Ernest | We have done this for as long as I can remember at the North Pole. But it has to be older than me. |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Hello everyone! |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Yes, it is a North Pole tradition that dates back to the ancient Claus family arrival at the North Pole |
| hi | hii |
| Elf Ernest | So how long ago was that? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | That goes back more than 500 years, Ernest |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | The Claus family, as you might recall, were toymakers from Germany |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | They came as refugees to the North Pole during a time of great war in Germany |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | One of the reasons the North Pole was selected – and there are many reasons – but one of them was because the North Pole is home to some very large underground caverns |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Deep caves, I guess you could call them |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | And these places were ideal for setting up a toy workshop and all that it took to support it |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | So the Claus family settled here and the legend of Santa Claus grew. |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | But there were problems in getting things set up |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Getting critical supplies such as lumber was a problem |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | It took them years to overcome those issues. |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | But once they figured out how to get those things, and how to grow food in the hostile environment of the North Pole, things progressed fast |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | But the elves – who in those days were all members of the Claus family – battled sickness a great deal |
| Elf Ernest | What kinds of sicknesses? Were they deadly? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | It was really many kinds of sicknesses and yes, some of them were very dangerous |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | It was Mrs. Claus who figured it out |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | They were caused in part by a lack of sunlight |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | She learned that if elves were to stay underground or indoors without a lot of exposure to sun on a regular basis they were prone to get sick |
| Elf Ernest | Oh my goodness |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | July is peak summer at the North Pole and that doesn’t mean warmth it means sunlight – long days of sunlight, most days as many as 19 hours of sunlight |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | So, in an effort to get elves more sun, Mrs. Claus came up with the idea of Christmas in July |
| Elf Ernest | So Mrs. Claus actually INVENTED Christmas in July? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Yes, it was her idea. And at first, it wasn’t called Christmas in July. She just encouraged them to take their building of toys outside – to work on the big things such as sleds |
| Elf Ernest | So an outdoor workshop? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Yes, her idea was sunshine and hard work – that it would keep the elves from getting sick. |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Science has since proven that she was exactly right |
| Elf Ernest | So this was all Mrs. Claus’ idea? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Yes, she was the inspiration. It doesn’t last long – this summer at the North Pole, only about six weeks and mostly during the month of July |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | In an effort to keep them outdoors and busy, events were added to the calendar each July to keep them busy and to have fun |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | And that is how Christmas in July at the North Pole got it’s start |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | It has been a tradition for us ever since |
| Elf Ernest | Is Christmas in July today different than back then? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Oh yes. They don’t make toys outside any more during July. Most events now are “for fun”. |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | And Mrs. Claus still insists that elves of all types and job descriptions play outside during July |
| Elf Ernest | Fascinating |
| Elf Ernest | Folks, Dr. Smedley will now be glad to answer any questions you might have |
| Elf Wayne | Merry Christams in July |
| Elf Ernest | Dr. Smedley, what did Santa think of Christmas in July at first? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Mrs. Claus tells me that Santa was one of ones she had to work hard to convince that being outside in July was necessary! |
| Elf Ernest | What does Santa tell you of his memory of those days? |
| Elf Ulan | Hi Dr. Smedley, how they get enough sunlights now? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | He admits he was not a big fan of it at first |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | The cycle of the seasons is the same now as it was then at the North Pole. |
| Elf GingerHolly | Is this why they have a snowball fight in July Dr. Smedley? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | So there is still a big push to get everyone outside as much as possible during July |
| Elf Wayne | Where does santa go on vacation |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | But there are now high tech lights they can help elves get the vitamin D they need that most get from the sun and those are used all year round at the North Pole |
| Elf Hannah | Are these underground caves still used today? Aren’t there records kept there or something? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | The snowball fight is a big tradition. The North Pole likes to do it because they can – there is still a lot of snow at the North Pole in July. The rest of the world is a little jealous of that. |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Snowball fights are usually harmless fun and even Mrs. Claus thinks it is good exercise |
| Elf GingerHolly | Haha cool! |
| Elf Ulan | Yes, we need vitamin D. That’s why they play snowball fight! |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Santa and Mrs. Claus vacation all over the world. They are most well known for October vacations when they visit Mrs. Claus’ family for Canadian Thanskgiving |
| Elf Radar | is there any indication that Christmas in July will continue to evolve into more of a mainstream holiday worldwide? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Yes, in fact, the North Pole Exploration Department is constantly looking for more caves and caverns to use as workspaces. |
| Elf GingerHolly | Cool! How did Santa meet Mrs. Claus??? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Interesting question. There is no doubt that it is celebrated in other places around the world, yes. Will it stick? Hard to say for sure. |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | I don’t believe it will ever NOT be a tradition at the North Pole. Elves really enjoy the activities of Christmas in July |
| Elf Hannah | How did the snowball fight go? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | That’s a long story and the details differ from Santa than they do from Mrs. Claus. I won’t get into here but I would encourage you to ask both of them their side of the story when they chat |
| Elf Ulan | Do you have a new traditional of Christmas this year? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | The Leon Day snowball fight was great. But it is really just the first of several snowball fights between now and the end of July. They will continue every weekend between now and the end of July and Santa does get involved in at least once each year |
| Elf GingerHolly | I hear some people say Christmas in July just ruins the Christmas season. But I like to think of it as an official kickoff to Christmas! We can start getting in the spirit early!!! |
| Elf GingerHolly | Amazing! I will do that for sure! Thank you so much!!! |
| Elf Hannah | Cool! Have you done anything fun for leon day, Dr. Smedley? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Well, you never know what is going to happen. COVID, for example, has introduced some new traditions that we never had before. Right after Christmas in July, for example, there is a big emphasis on health and getting flu shots. That’s not a Christmas tradition but it is becoming a part of the build-up to Christmas |
| Elf GingerHolly | Who won the snowball fight Dr. Smedley? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | It is sad to think that some people feel that. We know that for many around the world Christmas in July means staying cool by darkening a room and watching Christmas movies. Some celebrate by doing other things like working on Christmas light displays or starting Christmas projects |
| Elf GingerHolly | Cool! That sounds fun! :):):):):):):):):) |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Fun? Oh goodness, yes. It is my annual tradition to look at my collection of old North Pole notices. They would post flyers up in places to tell the people of the North Pole about Christmas in July events. I collect those things and to me they are fun to look at. I usually study them again every Leon Day. My own little tradition |
| Elf Ulan | You mean, they changed to new lifestyle. I didn’t know they had it too. |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | How do you “win” a snowball fight? I can tell you that Elf Crash was pretty ferocious yesterday and scored a lot of hits. But he also took a lot of hits as well! |
| Elf GingerHolly | Haha he siad he always DID feel like the target. You can win a snowball fight I guess by being the last one standing lol 🙂 |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | I think Christmas and how we celebrated and when we do certain things is constantly evolving. And it is different in some parts of the world. In New Zealand, for example, it’s winter now. And at Christmas, people there are doing summer things – like tracking Santa on the beach! |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Elves love messy competitions. That’s why the Halloween food fight remains a favorite activity, too |
| Elf Ernest | Excellent comments and questions everyone! |
| Elf Ernest | Do we have any final questions for Dr. Smedley? |
| Elf GingerHolly | That’s weird to me because Christmas has always been in the winter for me. It’d be cool to have it in the summer tho. Go swimming on Christmas haha lol 🙂 |
| Elf Ernest | Dr. Smedley, will you be participating in other events during July? |
| Elf Wayne | Do you live at the north pole Dr. Smedley? |
| Elf GingerHolly | that sounds fun lol |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Yes, but remember my role is that of a historian. I work every July to just document all the crazy things that happen. It’s the busy season for Christmas scholars! |
| Elf Ernest | So is there a place where all you record is kept? How do you “record”? |
| Elf Hannah | I remember someone saying something about that, a database or something? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | It used to be scrapbook style type of collections, Ernest. But these days we take videos and pictures and recordings of things that happen. We have a wonderful collection of Christmas in July memories at the North Pole that dates back better than 160 years |
| Elf Wayne | Do you live at the north pole Dr. Smedley? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Yes, we digitize everything. I love looking at the old paper originals but i do like all the computerized records of the past that we now have. |
| Elf GingerHolly | Is there a wat we can see those fun memories? I wanna watch the snowball fight lol 🙂 |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Yes, I am a full time resident of the North Pole. In fact, I’m one of the few I know who live here but never travel outside of the North Pole. I have no desire to visit other places. |
| Elf Ulan | Yes, that’s right. I heard Santa surf well! |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Yes, I share some stuff from the past from time to time via lectures and such. Anything I do in public has to be cleared by North Pole Security and approved by Santa though. |
| Elf Wayne | Do you particapate in the snowball fights Dr. Smedley? |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Yes, Santa is an excellent surfer |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Oh heavens, no. I’m not a physical kind of elf. I’m what you could call a bookworm |
| Elf Ernest | Dr. Smedley, thank you for all this great information! |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Thank you, Ernest. Great crowd today! |
| Elf Ulan | Wow! Do you surf too? |
| Elf Radar | Thank you Dr. Smedley. Excellent chat. I learned a lot. |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Thank you everyone and enjoy Christmas in July! |
| Elf GingerHolly | Cool! I love history! It’s truly fascinating!!!! 🙂 |
| Elf Wayne | Do you ever help make toys for santa Dr. Smedley? |
| Elf Ernest | GREAT CHAT!!! |
| Elf Dr. Grant Smedley | Good day, everyone! |
| Elf Ernest | Thank you all for being here today |
| Elf Ernest | Have a great rest of your day! |
Thank you, Dr. Smedley and Elf Ernest! It was so exciting, and very interested in his story. I have been waiting for this transcript! I wish I could take his classes there. I touched Mrs. Claus; she has excellent ideas a lot too! I’m so delighted to learn both the history and now in the North Pole, and I hope I can be one of them for helping their health and make fun more like her. And hopefully, we can participate in the snowball fight with Elf Crash and Santa someday ^^ Thank you so much, Elf Harold for the editing; I think that was so hard. Happy Christmas in July, and I’m looking forward to seeing all of you soon!