Like the storyline of a “sappy Christmas movie,” one small Christmas light purchase seven years ago has snowballed into an unstoppable holiday obsession for couple Carla Fraser and Brad McLean.
“We saw a snowman that bows, and we bought him because he’s cute,” Fraser explained.
“And then we saw a deer that moves its head up and down, and we bought that because he’s cute. Then we kept buying stuff because we would walk into stores and see things that we thought were cute.”
Eventually the couple had 5,000 lights on their home, which grew into 10,000 lights, then 20,000 lights — and now — an astounding 40,000 Christmas lights.
With decorations hailing from flea markets, boxing day sales in the United States, and several custom adaptations by McLean — including a plastic snowman that is now an interactive singing character, and an old garage door opener that is now a flying Santa — it is hard-pressed to find a collection as unique as theirs.
“It got to the point where we either had to stop, or go stupid with it,” Fraser said, laughing.
They chose the latter.
This bowing snowman is the first Christmas decoration purchased by Brad McLean and Carla Fraser. They now have a collection of 40,000 lights.
After successfully drawing large crowds to their Wish Upon A Star display at 19368 62A Ave. in Surrey, Fraser and McLean are optimistic they’ll have the same reception at their new home at 20681 44 Ave. in Langley.
Having just moved to the area in August, and already causing a commotion with their home renovations, they hope their new neighbours don’t mind “the Northern Lights.”
“It’s one thing to move into a neighbourhood and you’re the new people in the neighbourhood. We’re not only the new people in the neighbourhood, we came in here and started tossing drywall out the front door onto the lawn,” Fraser said.
“And then ‘oh, by the way, we’re bringing 40,000 lights with us. So I hope you all like Christmas, because the tour bus will be coming by and it’s going to be bright.’”
Fraser and McLean have had all types of spectators out front, ranging from first dates and families to tour buses and even limos.
But their favourites are the kids.
“Every year, there’s always one kid that will touch our hearts,” Fraser said.
“That one child, that for some reason, makes some sort of impression that melts us to pieces. So no matter how much work it is, how much space it takes up to store it, that one child will keep us going for the next year.”
Last year that title went to a little boy, who was about three years old. When Fraser asked him if he liked the lights, he ran up to her and gave her a hug. Then, as he was leaving, Fraser said goodbye, and he let go of his mother’s hand, ran up the driveway and gave her another hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“At that point I turned around and came into the house and just bawled my eyes out,” Fraser said.
“It’s that — it’s the little kids across the street from us that wouldn’t go to bed until they came over to see the display, have some hot chocolate and watch Santa fly.
“We’re creating memories for kids that are going to last a lifetime and they are going to grow up into adults, and they’re going to pass it on to their children. And in some small way, we’re having a positive influence on their lives, and it makes us feel good to do it.”
In similar fashion, through their Christmas craze, the couple also collects donations for BC Children’s Hospital through a donation box in the front yard, and hot chocolate sales.
Having personal experiences at the hospital through several of their family members, fundraising for this charity was a no-brainer. One hundred per cent of donations will go to BC Children’s with none being used to cover costs of the display.
“I like doing something for the community,” McLean said.
“There’s no end to the thanks and appreciation we get for it. At the end of the day, the kids are laughing and the money is going to a good cause.
“I like to think that it’s a positive thing all the way around, and it’s certainly a positive thing for us. As much as people get out of it, we’re getting more out of it.”
Their enthusiasm also seems to be contagious. Fraser and McLean have seen Scrooge’s in their old neighbourhood suddenly stringing up lights, and houses with modest displays suddenly getting brighter.
“It creates community spirit,” Fraser said.
“It just tends to bring everybody together, it’s a wonderful phenomenon.”
Even in their new home, they’ve noticed their holiday bliss spreading.
“When we first moved in we were pulling the cedars out from the front, doing a little landscaping. And so people would walk by and say ‘hi,’ and keep walking — friendly — but just ‘hi’ and walk by,” Fraser said.
“We start putting the lights out, and now everyone is stopping and chatting. And we’re getting to know who they are, and where they live and their history. It kind of encourages that conversation.
“It’s like a sappy Christmas movie — it seriously is.”
