Decorating and illuminating your home at Christmas is causing a sensation in Xàbia. About five or at most 10 years ago, figures of Santa Claus or Three Wise Men were barely seen hanging from the balconies symbolizing the arrival of Christmas. That was, practically, the only decoration that shined from the outside in each home. But, little by little, the decoration has been gaining ground and there is almost a comxicotetion to see who surprises with better decoration and lighting.
In Xàbia, there are several homes that have joined in to welcome Christmas in a special and creative way.
House of Mariela and Nestor
"You start a year with a few lights and each time you go for more." This is how the lighting of Mariela and Nestor's house began about four years ago. This family from Argentina has been living in Xàbia for more than 25 years and a few years ago, when they moved house, they started by decorating every corner of their garden.
The decorating work began at the beginning of November, spending an average of 3 or 4 hours a day in the installation for a month. They do not know the number of light bulbs that decorate the house, the garden and even the entrance, but the dozens of garlands, placed in a simple way, illuminate each afternoon, creating a joyful and Christmas atmosphere. And the flashing lights located on the tower that the house has attract the attention of those who travel along the Gata road. In fact, they have already begun to receive visits from some curious people.
The lighting turns on every day at 18:00 p.m. and turns off at 00:00 a.m. Six hours of colored lights that fill you with excitement during these days and that has already become a family tradition at Christmas time in which they work almost all year long thinking about what new lighting to use for next Christmas.
But Mariela and Nestor's love for Christmas does not remain there, on the outside. We enter the interior of the house where Mariela has taken care of every detail. The living room is dominated by a Christmas tree, the red and white colors of Christmas predominate inside the house, as well as an endless number of decoration items: elves, centrepieces, glass snowballs, etc. Entering the house makes you breathe another atmosphere.
House of Marcos and Celeste
Another of the homes that causes a sensation every year and that each Christmas exceeds the number of light bulbs even more is that of José Marcos Gil y Celeste. More than 50.000 LED bulbs flood the house and garden. The great Christmas lighting is a tribute to the Philippines, Celeste's country of origin and where it has been a tradition, since September, to decorate houses with a large number of lights to celebrate Christmas.
The origin of lighting the home began just a few years ago. José Marcos put aside the installation of the Nativity scene that he did every year to surprise his wife and that impulse has grown, year after year. In 2023, the decoration and lighting has changed compared to 2022. And every year, José Marcos, together with his son Alejando, try to make some changes and improve themselves a little more. More lights and the incorporation of new features such as the installation of solar panels, illuminate your house again this Christmas.
Calles
The residents of Tossal de Baix street wanted to continue their tradition of decorating on holidays. On this occasion, the residents of this street in the historic center have changed their Fogueres decorations for Christmas ones, filling this area with atmosphere, joy and color. A show of solidarity and combining customs.
Balconies and facade decorations
Another of the decorations that abound this 2023 in Xàbia are those of balconies and entrance doors to homes. Dozens of streets shine with the large number of colored and flickering lights that illuminate the balconies and facades. Simpler lighting, but no less creative.
The furor over Christmas decorations even reaches the vehicle itself.
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Christmas decoration in the car
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Xàbia house with Christmas lighting
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Christmas lights facade
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Xàbia balcony with Christmas lights
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Christmas decoration at the entrance of homes
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Christmas lighting in the homes of Xàbia
Christmas? What Christmas? On the other hand, everything is very Kitsch.
I agree with Pep's comment. Everything is very American, very tacky, and in Mariela and Néstor's house a little corner is dedicated to the Holy Family, with the Baby Jesus placed in a ball of water! I was embarrassed by everything dedicated to the blessed Santa Claus, which is a ridiculous commercial invention and has nothing to do with Saint Nicholas, whose celebration is on December 6.
Christmas is a totally Christian holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, but they are turning it (many in good faith or due to lack of knowledge) into an absurd carnival. A real shame.
Totally agree.
In addition to the light pollution that this entails and the fact that electricity companies consider that we do not think that light is expensive enough, it seems tacky to me not to have the measure to know how to decorate.