Well, for us Kiwis celebrating our normal Christmas in the sun, bathing on the beach with Santa often arriving on water skis it’s no wonder a Mid Winter Christmas in July has become a permanent fixture in many homes throughout the country. 

The weather is bleak, the leaves on the trees have fallen and it’s a wonderful time to hunker down and celebrate by a crackling fire and remember what we are grateful for. And what better way to celebrate than sustainably. 

Try these fun ideas to make this year’s mid-winter Christmas extra special...

Pinecone decorations

Send the kids off on a pine cone hunting adventure! Dip the tips in white vegetable based paint for a modern twist and scatter them across the dinner table as a rustic decoration. 

 

Gratitude Chinese Whispers

Use this time to be grateful for what you have, your friends your family your community and the love around you. Ask your guests to come along with something they are grateful for and start the lunch or dinner with each person whispering their gratitude around the table. See what comes back at the end. Great for a few laughs and you can always make corrections if the message gets completely tangled!  

 

A fresh centrepiece

First, position a long table runner on your dining table to ground the centrepiece. We absolutely love the Christmas style runners from www.vintagestitchup.co.nz. Next, snip greenery from your garden for a burst of colour. We love the soft greens of Corokia, Olive and Teucrium. Crab Apples offer a shot of colour to the table or late fruiting Chilean Guava for another edible decoration.   

 

DIY napkin rings

Use some malleable foliage to create small circles to hold your Good Change Bamboo Napkin. Thread the bamboo through each ring and lay greenery or a sprig of dried lavender on top. If you’re short on time, simply roll the napkins and tie them with twine plus a sprig of rosemary. 

 

Eat sustainably

Start the gastronomic journey with some taste treats from Umami Larder. These ladies really know how to create the most delicous blends of exotic flavours. Our personal favourite… Sweet Cardamom & Rose Pistachio Dukkah. 

 For your main course indulge in some sustainably farmed morsels from Harmony Meats as the base of your mid-winter feast. All of their products are raised by people with the highest respect for the environment. It’s food you can feel really good about eating and what better way to celebrate a Mid Winter Christmas. My personal favourite…. Harmony Coastal Lamb butterflied leg with herbs and Harmony Highgrounds Pork and Crackle. Mmmmm, delectable! 

 

Settle in by the fire

And once your belly is full jump into your casual wear and lounge by the fire wrapped in a woolly Throw from Hushaberry for a cosy finale to your Mid-Winter celebrations. 

 

Merry Mid-Winter Christmas to all, and to all a good night!