YULE LOVE IT HERE: How one home in Brackenfell brings joy to the community

What started as a simple way to entertain themselves and celebrate the festive season has, over the years, transformed 16 Dennegeur Road in Brackenfell into one of the Cape’s most magical Christmas destinations.

While many may not know their names, Rick van der Galien and his partner, Paulo Rodrigues, have turned their home into a household name for evening family outings after 20:00, drawing visitors from across the city.

Outside the property, spectators are greeted by a spectacular Christmas display featuring Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and a Christmas tree towering above the house itself. The magic does not stop at the gate. Inside, the home is equally enchanting, with an elves’ tea party, Santa Claus in the lounge and several beautifully decorated Christmas trees filling the space.

Van der Galien told the Weekend Argus the idea was born more than eight years ago when the couple decided to decorate their home purely for their own enjoyment.

“We just love Christmas so much, and when you watch Christmas movies you see all these beautifully decorated homes. We thought it would be special to do the same,” he said. “Then people started stopping and asking if they could take pictures or even come inside to take photos, and who are we to stop the Christmas cheer?”

That cheer has spilled over into the surrounding neighbourhood, where a nightly market has sprung up during the festive season. The market is run by Letitia Niemand and her seniors’ club, Fun4Seniors, just down the road from the decorated home.

“People would come and ask where they could buy things, so we saw an opportunity to showcase our talents,” Niemand said. “We do this twice a year – for Christmas in July and for Christmas. Everyone here is a senior, and they absolutely love doing this.”

Among them is Mandy Collins, 78, who is well known for her pancake-making skills. For “Aunty Mandy”, waking up at 4am each morning to prepare batches of up to 1 000 pancakes is a labour of love.

“It’s all about seeing how happy the customers are when they take a bite,” she said. “I live for this, for the seniors’ club. It makes you feel so included.”

Fellow senior Carole Barkhuizen, also 78, agreed, saying the market means the world to her.

Niemand added that most of the proceeds go towards sustaining the seniors’ club throughout the year, with each senior also receiving a cash envelope to spoil themselves.

“This is what the lights in Dennegeur have done for us,” she said. “They have made our community one.”