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António Gonçalves, 19 years ago, created a true Christmas phenomenon when he opened his house at 48 Castelo de Pombal street, in Amares. First, it illuminated the ceiling and balconies. Then, over the years, it increased. It has increased so much that by mid-2020 the house is completely covered in Christmas lights providing a phenomenal evening show for those who pass by. And they are all LEDs, to ‘protect’ the environment, says ‘Cavenco’, the nickname by which he is known on ‘earth’.

MINHO visited the house and shows the dedication and passion that this Amarense has for Christmas lighting. As his daughter Adriana Gonçalves told me, the father does it because “he likes it a lot”. “He becomes a real child when Christmas comes.”

António begins to install lighting in early December. As the religious tradition dictates, the lights are turned on only from December 8, when the Immaculate Conception is celebrated. And then it is to see the visits that come together, amazed, before such a scenario. The children also love it (there is a primary school a few meters away), and they already call António’s house “Casa do Pai Natal”. This year, the lighting has increased by 68 meters compared to 2019. In total, the house has about 1,500 meters of Christmas lighting.

“I do this by myself, that’s what I like the most, it’s lit up for Christmas. That’s it and the crib. We have two, one inside the house and the other outside the house with great figures ”, explained António, a professional in the field of construction, who is worth some savings to cover expenses with this Christmas adventure.

However, it is quite inexpensive for the family pocket. António says he spends less than smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, as many others do. A day, he spends two euros on electricity, since he has all the lights connected to the same socket. As for the expense to buy lighting, António uses the profession to collect some scrap metal and then sell it. The money you collect from these sales is used to cover lighting expenses.

Whoever wants to visit the place, “is at ease.” “My father is always there, whether in the garden or inside the house. Anyone who wants to pay a visit and ask something is just to call him, ”says daughter Adriana, revealing that, for next year, the father should install a giant reindeer and Santa Claus on the roof.

To visit the ‘Casa do Pai Natal’ you must go to the ISAVE block, in Amares, then go to a parallel intersection, where you must turn left. After walking a few meters, you need to turn left again and follow a dead-end street. The room is the last one on that street.

But look at the ‘holes’ in the road, something the family has already complained about and the Parish Council has ensured that, during the year, the road will be in better conditions to receive visitors.