![Single Judge Application; This Court has held that “[l]ay testimony is competent . . . to establish the presence of observable symptomatology and ‘may provide sufficient support for a claim of service connection.’” Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet.App. 303, 307 (2007) (quoting Layno v. Brown, 6 Vet.App. 465, 469 (1994)). As this Court has often noted, “symptoms, not treatment, are the essence of any evidence of continuity of symptomatology.” Savage v. Gober, 10 Vet.App. 488, 496 (1997); see also Wilson v. Derwinski, 2 Vet.App. 15, 19 (1991) (noting that the “regulation requires continuity of symptomatology, not continuity of treatment”);](https://hadit.com/wp-content/uploads/tshirt-Hadit.com-Business-Card-Back-3-1024x585.png)
Everyone loves the traditional snow themed Christmas. However for many countries December is summer time and the thought of cooking a hot meal is enough to give people heat stroke! So in various countries throughout the world “Christmas in July” is understandably gaining popularity. In recent times it is seen as an unofficial holiday marked by celebrations which include parties and dinners featuring the traditional heavy hot meals associated with the cooler weather Christmas feasting in the northern hemisphere on December 25.
Many countries such as Australia experiences warm to hot weather on December 25 and July is their coldest month. In recent times in Australia this new custom of celebrating “Christmas in July” has been adopted and is gaining momentum throughout the land. Like many other countries that experience warm or hot weather in December, July offers an opportunity to capture the atmosphere of a traditional cold weather Christmas with logged fires, a hot roast and hot plum pudding. For many people who yearn to experience a traditional Christmas feast, “Christmas in July” is the only way they can experience it without having to spend lots of money to travel to another country in the northern hemisphere. Not many people want to leave family and friends behind in December for the experience of a “white Christmas” so “Christmas in July” is the perfect alternative!
“Christmas in July” is also gaining popularity among retailers who often hold “Christmas in July” sales. If you do a Google search on the internet for “Christmas in July” you will see hundreds of retailers offering all kinds of merchandise and holiday festivities and gift ideas. Christmas movies are also popular during this time with re-runs on television. A wonderful fun movie that you can purchase or hire is “Christmas in July (1940)” starring Dick Powell and Ellen Drew. There is even a television shopping channel “QVC” that has a show names “Christmas in July”.
Although “Christmas in July” is held on varying dates during this month in different countries, there is no doubt that “Christmas in July” will continue to increase in popularity. Not only is it exciting to experience a traditional “white Christmas” for people residing outside the northern hemisphere, it is also a wonderful time where people are further reminded of the virtues associated with Christmas: giving, forgiveness, love and gratitude. Reflection mid-year offers a healing opportunity for people to start the process of transforming from the inside out by reviving and rekindling the spirit that belongs to Christmas!
