On Sunday, December 1, the Nonantum Children’s Christmas Party Association (NCCPA) lit the first lights of Newton’s annual holiday season. More than 2,000 people — including many children and many local elected officials — gathered at the Coletti-Magni Park on Watertown Street to greet Santa Claus and his reindeer, enjoy hot chocolate and donuts (courtesy of the local Dunkin’ Donuts and Eddy’s Breakfast and Lunch), listen to the DJ, and join the carolers.
A steady stream of children climbed onto Santa’s lap to place their Christmas orders. There is also a Christmas mailbox option along the park fence adjacent to Dunkin’ Donuts. Smiling people wandered among the many bright Christmas scenes assembled in the park, admiring the many lights and decorations. Looming above the park’s decorations and lights is a 20-foot Santa Claus, which has become the symbol of Nonantum’s Christmas celebration. And the St. Mary of Carmen Men’s Society is selling trees and wreaths to raise money for its activities.
For 70 years now, the NCCPA has been providing an annual party and presents for neighborhood children. More recently, its focus has been holiday gift baskets for the elderly and veterans. According to Nonantum native Chuck Proia, a member of the NCCPA, Columbus Hall on Adams and Watertown Street was the original location of the children’s party. In the 1970s, when the Christmas Party was at American Legion Post 440, a live Santa would arrive by helicopter.
Now, the familiar Santa statue dominating Coletti-Magni Park, “flies” in by crane in the week before the lighting, while the human Santa presides over the annual Park Lighting, seated in a sleigh and accompanied by decorated reindeer. Bright white lights cover the tree branches and trunks along Watertown Street, and store fronts echo the Coletti-Magni Christmas theme. Third- and fourth- generation residents of Nonantum are everywhere, over-seeing the festivities and celebrating the evening.
With every year, the Nonantum village center glows brighter with the addition of more lights. In addition to the Park Lighting festivities last Sunday, there will be a Nonantum Christmas parade and another chance to consult with Santa – on Sunday, December 15.
Amid Sunday’s festivities, a somber moment marked this year’s Park Lighting as it honored the untimely death of Cesidia “Jo” Bennington, a longtime Nonantum resident. Jo Bennington was born in its sister village, San Donato Val di Comino, Italy, but moved here when she was four. In addition to her close association with the community, Jo Bennington was well known to customers at the Washington Whole Foods, where she worked for many years.
Terry Sauro, Nonantum Neighborhood Association (NNA) President, said of the Park Lighting, “I have lived in Nonantum all my life, and our beautiful traditions live on. I remember going to the park and mailing my Santa letter and then looking up at that huge Santa on his chimney. From the Nonantum Children’s Christmas Party Association to St. Mary of Carmen along with the newly formed Women’s Group and the NNA, Nonantum is a village of traditions. Just look around.”
Mr. Proia, noted that “the next generation” is taking on the 70-year old NCCPA. Founded by Anthony “Fat” Pellegrini, the organization is now overseen by his son, Anthony Pelligrini, Jr., his daughter, Linda Anderson, as well as his grandsons, John Ponaggio, Bo-Louis Pellegrini, Daniel Anderson, and their friends. Mr. Pellegrini said his father told him, “Once you give things up around here, you’ll never get them back.” And Mr. Pellegrini’s grandson Daniel Anderson noted:
“Every year we look forward to bringing the community together at the Park Lighting. It takes a team of us to make this happen. It’s the smiles and the happiness we see out in the crowd before the switch turns on that keeps us going. We want to thank all who help and support us throughout the year.”
Like this festive event, Nonantum’s 89-year old annual summertime Festa Italiana is also, increasingly, becoming the responsibility of the founders’ children and grandchildren.
