Mum turns house into a huge Santa's grotto more than three months before Christmas

[Rob Thompson]

Mum turns house into a huge Santa's grotto more than three months before Christmas

Source - Wales Online

By - Nathan Bevan

Date - 06-09-2021

The woman who became a internet sensation last year by putting up a grand's worth of Christmas decorations three months early has done it again.

Caroline Gabe, from Neath Port Talbot, made headlines as far away as America in September 2020 for the elaborate festive display which saw her house and garden festooned with 3,000 fairy lights, giant inflatable snowmen and sparkling snow.

When asked why, she explained that she did it to cheer up her neighbours after "a horrible and surreal year" under Covid.

Read more:The best Christmas decorations in Wales - from yarn bombing to an entire street of lights

"And things haven't really improved much this year either, have they?" said the former health worker and mum-of-three, who lives in Heol y Felin, Caewern.

"If anything it's been just as bad, what with coronavirus case figures back on the rise - what is more, I also lost my cousin Julie to cancer back in the spring and she was always such a lover of Christmas.

It took Caroline 12 hours to set up everything (Image: Caroline Gabe)
"So this time round I've put up the decorations in her honour too. They remind me of her and I know she's looking down right now and loving it all."

The 47-year-old added that she's even managed to up the ante with her latest display.
"I've got lots of new additions - an 8ft blow-up Santa, a huge illuminated Father Christmas and about 4,800 warm white lights, to name but a few.

"Don't ask me how much that will all cost to run, I daren't look," she laughed.

"I was hoping to plug it all into the next door neighbours' house so they can help with the bills."

Caroline added that the seasonal scene took her 12 hours to set up, with the grand switch-on taking place on Saturday night.

How Caroline's house looked this time last year -

"You wouldn't believe how many people have come to see it already - they've been driving all the way down from the Rhondda.

"It's nice to put a smile on others' faces and it also brings me and my kids a lot of joy."

And 2021 won't be the last time she does it either.

"No, I've got the bug now, so - pandemic or no pandemic - every September from now on is going to be Christmas come early."

[Rob Thompson]

Its got to be a whopping electricity bill  

[Santa Craig Maxwell]

2 hours ago, Rob Thompson said:

Its got to be a whopping electricity bill  

Worth every $  

[Santa Craig Maxwell]

I wish I had all of that in my front yard right now, I'd plug it in tonight. 

[Drosselmeyer]

am I missing something ???  I don't see a problem here . . . 

[Rob Thompson]

1 hour ago, Drosselmeyer said:

am I missing something ???  I don't see a problem here . . . 

Not sure you missing anything, perhaps misunderstanding, no problems mentioned

[Santa Johnny Boy]

Never heard it called a grotto before.  Wonder what the origins are?

[Rob Thompson]

1 hour ago, Santa Johnny Boy said:

Never heard it called a grotto before.  Wonder what the origins are?

I shall see if I can find the origins Johnny  

[Rob Thompson]

1 hour ago, Santa Johnny Boy said:

Never heard it called a grotto before.  Wonder what the origins are?

According to Encyc Brittania: 

Grotto, natural or artificial cave used as a decorative feature in 18th-century European gardens. Grottoes derived from natural caves were regarded in antiquity as dwelling places of divinities. Grottoes were often constructed from a fanciful arrangement of rocks, shells, bones, broken glass, and other strangely  assorted objects and were commonly associated with water (see nymphaeum).

Well-known garden grottoes were the Grotto of Thetis at Versailles, Fr., Alexander Pope’s grotto at Twickenham, Middlesex, Eng. (now part of Greater London), and the grotto at Stourhead, Wiltshire, Eng.

I will try and find the origins of Santa using a grotto and post it up

[Drosselmeyer]

19 hours ago, Rob Thompson said:

Not sure you missing anything, perhaps misunderstanding, no problems mentioned

exactly !

[Rob Thompson]

3 hours ago, Drosselmeyer said:

exactly !

I have no idea what you are on about  

Edited September 8, 2021 by Rob Thompson

[Drosselmeyer]

Methinks thou dost think too hard

I find no problem with a big early Christmas display - I see it as a fun and good thing

that is all

carry on

[Santa Timothy SC]

On 9/7/2021 at 12:16 PM, Santa Craig Maxwell said:

I wish I had all of that in my front yard right now, I'd plug it in tonight. 

Me too!!!