By Stamatina Notaras
Though the festive season evokes many memories, one in particular stands out as clear as day.
Every year, when December rolls around and the suburban streets are bathed in a hue of green and red, with plastic snowmen donning Hawaiian shirts and clutching cans of XXX Gold, my family and I would pile into two 12-seater vans, setting out on our annual hunt for the best Christmas light display our city has to offer.
A seasoned veteran in that field, Alex Mangos’ house would’ve certainly been on our must-see list.
His childhood love for the festive season, his fascination for National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, and his appreciation for old-school Christmas classics all evolved into an adult’s desire to spread the Christmas spirit, right from his very own doorstep.
“I have very fond memories as a child of family get-togethers, carols by candlelight, and decorating mum’s house with Christmas lights,” Alex recalls.
“I used to watch the classics… and fell in love with the houses full of lights. My mum let me start slowly decorating our house, and each year, she would buy me another set to add to the display.”
When looking at the sheer volume of lights covering nearly every surface of his house, it’s hard not to imagine the challenges inevitably faced in the process.
“I’ve had a few falls off the ladder and large props be blown over in storms. There were some funny ‘shake-my-head’ moments this year when my five-year-old son took scissors to some lights and cut through the cords,” Alex says.
Yikes!
What started as a locally-loved tradition has now become a major attraction, drawing visitors from all over Sydney.
“The neighbourhood loves our display. We can hear kids screaming with excitement each night from our lounge room. We receive lovely letters in our letterbox thanking us for putting up our lights. Every weekend in December, people drive by to see the lights and take photos,” Alex explains.
Contrary to a university paper or preparing a work presentation, this project takes a lot of time and cannot be started the night before (but don’t let me stop you).
“I start in early October each year, aiming to turn the display on by December 1st. I do the entire display on my own and hand-built most of the props (including nutcrackers, a giant ice cream, donut, gingerbread man, cupcake, driveway arch),” Alex says.
But his Christmas display is more than twinkling lights and quirky props; it’s a way to give back to a place very close to his heart – the Sydney Children’s Hospital.
“My son, Myka, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) at the age of three, and we’ve been in and out of Sydney Children’s Hospital for around 18 months. The good news is that Myka has responded well to his treatment, and the outlook is very positive,” he says.
Lastly, if you’re one of those who, I can’t believe I’m even saying this, have yet to put up their Christmas tree, consider this a gentle reminder. And for those with little helpers who may lack creative direction, I’ve heard that the corner of your living room has a blank wall just waiting to share space with that one side of the tree.
To donate to the Sydney Children’s Hospital, scan the QR code on the link below: https://www.lightsforkids.org.au/fundraisers/alexmangos/2024
