TIGNISH, P.E.I. — Sitting next to her lit up Christmas tree, carols ringing in the background, Kelly Pitre looks out her window.
But rather than gleaming snow, she is greeted with bright sunshine, green grass and colourful flowers.
After all, she is celebrating Christmas in July.
"It all started in 2011. Mom died in September the year before (2010). That Christmas she was going to show me how to make meat pies. You know what it can be like when a parent passes away," she said.
Come Summer 2011, Pitre - the only daughter and the youngest in the family - and her four older brothers and their respective families gathered for their annual time together.
"One of my brothers said, 'It's too bad we're never together for Christmas.' That made us remember that when we were younger we'd celebrate Christmas in July. All the family would get together and we'd have a blast. It's what made us decide to start the tradition up again."
"I love Christmas. It's why it doesn't feel like a lot of work to get everyone together because I love it."
-Kelly Pitre
Eight years later and Pitre just celebrated the latest instalment of the family's Christmas in July festivities. To mark the occasion, Pitre and her oldest brother made 30 meat pies.
"We keep half and he keeps half."
In this case, the meat pies are a take on the traditional Acadian pâté meat pies.
Pitre was also responsible for making all the hot meals, including the giant turkey dinner.
"I also made my other brother cinnamon rolls and biscuits. It feels good to be able to do that, knowing it's something mom would have made for them when they come home."
Rather than the one or two trees, Pitre festooned seven of them with decorations.
"I love Christmas. It's why it doesn't feel like a lot of work to get everyone together because I love it."
She said her favourite part of the traditional Christmas season has always been the time spent with family.
"At first it felt like we were cheating. But now, I feel like we're very lucky to get to do this and have this opportunity."
It wasn't long after Pitre shared a photo of her 30 meat pies on Facebook that it was posted to the popular Tignish Talk page by Joanne Leclair-Perry.
"I know exactly what it's like to have to make that many pies all at once," said Leclair-Perry, one of the former owners of Eugene's General Store.
"We'd make our own pies all year long. But come September, we'd start taking orders. They would call us months in advance. It was unreal how many orders we'd fill."
For Leclair-Perry, the process of making meat pies brings a flood of memories.
"It was my mother-in-law that taught my husband and I how to make meat pies. It's a meal we associate with nostalgia."
