SPREADING love, joy and hope this festive season are the Marreiros family of Arboretum in Richards Bay as they have decorated their home with over 80 000 lights in the spirit of Christmas.
Taking the family a little over a week to prepare their home for the official switch on that took place on 1 December, Tony and Cornelia Marreiros told the Zululand Observer that this year the setup was done in record time as it usually takes almost a month to complete.
The family has been decorating their home into a spectacle of lights over the past few years but this year they have gone a step further by using more than usual the number of lights and switching on every day from 7pm till 10 pm, allowing the public to view the amazing display and listen to carols playing in the background.
But there’s more to the story than just a spectacle of lights, the Marreiros family believe that the true spirit of Christmas is when people open their hearts and give back to the less fortunate community members. They are collecting food items and toys that will be distributed to poor families over Christmas.
When asked about the cost incurred and electricity bills the Mareirros said that it is not about the money, its about Christmas and putting a smile on other people’s faces.
‘It is overwhelming to see the look on little children’s faces when they see the house. Their eyes light up and this adds even more beauty to what we have created. Some families even come and enjoy their take-away meals on the lawn across the road whilst the children play and listen to the music.
‘This year is the first time our entire family will be together over Christmas and we decided to go all out,’ said Cornelia.
A trailer is parked outside the home every night and donations in cash or kind can be dropped off at the Marreiros residence at 15 Rhus Lancea, Arboretum. Contact Cornelia on
View a video of the Christmas lights here https://youtu.be/0e1VKv3ZUSc
082 7726944 for more information.
