“Many said, please tune in”: The family lets the Christmas house shine despite the energy crisis
Created: 11/25/2022, 13:12
By: Tanja Kipke
40,000 LEDs: The red house of the Schott family shines in Christmas splendor.
© Schott family
40,000 LED lights illuminate the Schott family home.
They actually wanted to leave the Christmas decorations this year.
They explain to Merkur.de why they decided to do this despite the energy crisis.
Schwaig - Mr. Schott actually wanted to do without his Christmas decorations this year.
In the summer he talked to others who also let a Christmas house shine every year.
"At the time we thought we'd leave it," says Oliver Schott in an interview with
Merkur.de.
“But so many said, please, please switch it on.” So Schott switches on its 40,000 LEDs after all.
Numerous onlookers would have announced themselves for the start date alone, on Wednesday (November 23).
Christmas house in Schwaig shines despite rising energy costs: Family names reason
The Schotts' Christmas house is known beyond the region.
For 14 years, the family home has been lit up in the brightest colors at Christmas time in the Nuremberg region.
"I've always been a Christmas fan." The family needs three to five days to decorate the house in Schwaig.
There would be 2,000 LED lights on the big Christmas tree alone, and there are even 4,000 on the popular Christmas bauble, which he also likes to use for photos.
A total of 40,000 LEDs shine on the Schotts' property.
And that in times of the energy crisis, in which electricity and gas costs are rising enormously.
Schott sees it calmly.
"It's worth it to me, I'm a professional musician and that's how I get in the mood for the Christmas season." The 42-year-old is a gospel singer and performs in various churches, especially at Christmas time.
Christmas decorations are just part of it.
Why is the house so brightly lit?
"I don't like yellow at all."
Colorful is nicer in color, "as a gospel singer you float a little bit," he explains and laughs.
Christmas house of the Schott family in Schwaig: "We have a full house every evening"
Schott received very few negative reactions to his decision to switch on the Christmas lights anyway.
“95 percent of the people were all enthusiastic.” The family home is definitely an attraction in the region.
"We have full house every day," numerous visitors come to admire the lights.
Most of the neighbors also gather in front of the house in the evenings.
"They've all gotten used to the lights."
Some even offered to “pay something extra”.
Oliver Schott with his gospel choir under his Christmas ball in the garden.
©Oliver Schott
In recent years, children have flocked to the lantern procession on November 11th.
However, that was not possible this year.
In order to nevertheless make its contribution to the energy crisis, Schott has decided not to "switch on" the house until November 23rd, as usual on November 11th.
It will also not shine until January 6th, only until December 26th.
He also turns off the lights an hour earlier each night than in previous years.
By the way: Our Nuremberg newsletter regularly informs you about all the important stories from Middle Franconia and the Franconian metropolis. Sign up here.
"This year I'll do my work and read the electricity every day"
Schott cannot say how much he pays for all the lights.
Since he is asked so often due to the current crisis, he wants to calculate it this time.
"This year I'll do my work and read the electricity every day." However, his provider will only increase the prices at the turn of the year, so it shouldn't be more than last year.
Other Christmas houses in Bavaria have decided to do without the lights this year.
"Some don't do it because of the costs," says Schott
Merkur.de
.
Others were afraid that their fairy lights would be cut.
"Personally, I'm not afraid of that."
(tkip)
You can find more news from Nuremberg and Middle Franconia at Merkur.de/Bayern/Nuernberg.
