Let there be light: The front yard of the Muschners in Berkenbrück is one big festival of lights. This attracts many visitors, including those from Berlin Photo: Patrick Pleul/dpa
By Julian Loevenich
There is no light with the Muschner family! If it weren’t for Gabriele (55) and Harald Muschner (58) – it would be gloomy in the small town of Berkenbrück (Oder-Spree).
This year they have once again set up a Christmas wonderland on an 800 square meter front yard – including a 17 meter high fir tree clad in 10,000 little LED lights. Light spectacle against crisis frustration and sadness!
The two started doing it almost 20 years ago. “It’s just our hobby,” says Gabriele. It helps her through the dark season.
Reindeer with Santa Claus and sleigh: The large figures can cost around 1000 euros Photo: Patrick Pleul/dpa
Every year, the week before the first Sunday in Advent, she takes a vacation “to do the finishing touches”. Decorate, position, select: the Muschners start with that sooner. They want to tell lots of little stories with their lighting.
A side effect: “Lots of people come by and take a look,” says Gabriele. Children with their parents, also older people. The mayor even helped out with a lifting platform this year to decorate the fir tree.
A luminous snowman Photo: Patrick Pleul/dpa
How much does all this cost? “For us it’s just a nice hobby and the costs shouldn’t be the priority,” says Gabriele.
Nevertheless, a few years ago you switched completely to LED and installed a photovoltaic system on the roof. So they are prepared when the lights go on punctually at 4:15 p.m. every day.