The Christmassy house on Granada's Costa Tropical that has become a TikTok sensation

When the sun begins to set in the old town of Almuñécar on Granada province’s Costa Tropical, there is a street where thousands of lights shine non-stop. For the last 20 years Josefina Rodríguez, a lifelong resident of the neighbourhood, has decorated the entire façade and home for Christmas and this Christmas her house has become one of the most photographed corners of the coast.

Calle Higuero de Clavelitos has colourful lights that run along windows, walls, cornices, and doors. These light patterns and lines illuminate the entire street. Josefina, who has lived there for more than fifty years, has raised her children in this home and seen her grandchildren grow. It was for her seven grandchildren that she started the project. “We do this because of the children,” says she. The tradition of decorating the tree for Christmas began over 20 years ago when her grandchildren were young. Every December since, it has continued.

Her husband Francisco is in charge of setting up the façade. He puts the garlands, string of lights and light curtain one by one. Between the two of them, they can put up more than 20 strips of lights on the façade alone, not counting those inside the house. They say that it takes them three to four working days to install the lights. While some neighbours joked about the electricity bills, they would continue to do this as long they could.

Paola is one of their grandchildren. She posted a TikTok clip that has received hundreds of thousand views and likes from all over the world. She has been filming her house and uploading videos on social media for years, particularly Instagram. She decided to upload a TikTok video with an audio that compared the decoration of her house to New York’s Times Square.

Paola decided that she would create a special account for the house. Since then, it is not uncommon to see people standing in front of it taking photos, recording videos or pointing at the façade. Some even ring their doorbells to find out who lives there. Some even ring the doorbell to ask who lives there.

Josefina’s passion for dressmaking is evident. She crocheted or knitted many of the decorations. There are knitted Santa hats and angels as well as wall hangings. The living room Christmas tree is decorated with the little angels, which are one of her most precious symbols. She says that there must be a nativity scene, decorations and atmosphere.

A street and family Christmas

The family has been singing carols in the street for decades. Paola says, “We’ve been practicing Christmas carols ever since November began”. She also adds that the group sings “everything and classics”. More than 50 people are in the group, including family members and friends. The group sings in the street, often in Plaza de los Higuitos (the oldest square of the town).

Josefina & Francisco are still amazed at how something that they’ve been doing for years has become a sensation on the internet. The excitement is the same as it was before. It’s only changed that, now in addition to neighbours, visitors from around the world come to see it. Josefina, with a soft smile, says that “we do not do this because we want to be famous. It’s just something we enjoy”. It’s possible that this is the reason why her house shines so brightly.