“Christina’s Lights”

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Many people are now likely witnessing elaborate displays of Christmas lights up in communities across the world. But while most people put them up to celebrate the holidays, a Grimsby couple goes out of their way to light up their home in honour of their daughter, taken from them suddenly when she was just 14 years old.

Cindy and Uby Paul lost their daughter, Christina, April 3, 1993. At first Cindy couldn’t bare the thought of putting up the lights but when her husband insisted on having these lights up. Cindy says at some point they helped her cope with her grief. They don’t call them Christmas lights though, they call them Christina’s lights.

“This was something the two of them shared, so my husband decided to continue that tradition with her.”

Christina died in a car crash. It happened after school in St. Catharines almost 23 years ago. Christina loved cows so the Paul’s have placed many of them within the display. Cindy says the angel reminds her of her daughters femininity and beauty.

“She would be very honoured that her dad is still doing this without her because this is something they shared and talked about it for weeks before they would do it.”

The Paul’s turn on Christina’s lights every year on November 28th at 4:30 pm. November 28th was Christina’s birthday and it was at 4:30 pm, she died in the accident.

“Always when the lights go on I sing happy birthday to her, because it’s her birthday.”

The Pauls also lost a friend last week. Al Marshall died of cancer so the Pauls created a decoration made of more than 100 lights in memory of their friend. The Pauls say their holiday display may inspire hope.

“It’s to find that peace and acceptance and to carry on and life does go on. It may not be the same but it’s what we do with that time.”

Cindy says they’re not sure how many lights they have here, they’ve never counted and as for what it’s worth? They say it doesn’t matter because if Christina was still alive they’d be spending that money on her anyway.