ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LIGHTING UP CHRISTMAS!!

I originally published this in 2013 and am reposting in today.
One cannot get enough of Christmases past.


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Taunton Green was placed on The National Register in 1985.

Taunton's Green, or Common as it was called,  factored centrally in Taunton's life since Taunton's founding in 1637.  First it was a place to graze cattle and roster the troops. In  1914 it began its story of a spectacle of light and hope at Christmastide. 

 Below is one of the first Christmas Green photographs taken in 1925 from the wonderful book "80 years of Christmas in Taunton: Candles on the Green." released in 1994.  A new one is available celebrating 100 years this year of 2013.  Once again, Charlie Crowley and Dr. William Hanna renew our memories and knowledge of this Taunton treasure.  I have added the framework to give it a nostalgic touch for this post.  

In the next photo taken in 1936, the theme was The Spirit of Taunton recalling the famous Lindberg flight  with a plane at center on a multi-colored globe painted by Frank Taylor.  "The airplane's registration number, shown on its tail, was 593, which happened to be the telephone number of the TMLP."  The Christmas displays each year would mirror the times in which they occurred, in peace and in war. You can see the plane glowing above the globe.

My husband was nine years old that year and recalls this display.  His family made the trek from Swansea each year to see the Green.  He remembers, as do so many Tauntonians, the wonderful arches that so often graced the Christmas Green.

Last Christmas in this blog we followed the Green over the World War II years when blackout rules did not allow for lights and Taunton with the country worried over the safety of its sons and daughters. The romance of my Aunt Alveda and Uncle Ziggy provided a personal pictorial framework for us.

In 1949,  then Mayor ]ohn Parker wrote an article about the meaning of the Green.  A good friend, Louise Foster who grew up in Taunton, shared this photo of the Green that same year.  As so often happened, a blanket of snow covered all.  War was over and the nation was starting to dig itself out. 

This past weekend, on Dec. 7th, Taunton, The Christmas City celebrated 100 years of lighting Christmas up for its people and those from miles around. With its celebratory hat on the City bloomed with venues of wonderful entertainment .  There was even a human Christmas tree in which 982 people participated and broke the Guiness Book of Records!!  Taunton went for it!!

Thanks to Micaila Britto-Patten and the TMLP bucket truck for this awesome photo of this year's

Christmas lighting from I'm From Taunton Facebook page.

One hundred years of living through the ups and downs of so many struggling New England cities, and still our little city shows its spirit! That spirit it demonstrated in the American Revolution, through the Civil War and the terrible wars that followed.  Lights on the Green led us on, even when it would have needed candlelight.  May those lights get even brighter and our birth city pull itself up and onward!

What is wonderful about all of our Christmas Greens is the fact that there has always been a Nativity scene somewhere on them.  Take the one below from 1947 (picture found on the Net) which prominently displays the Nativity right in the center of the Green.  Even this year one was included. Taunton has never forgotten the true meaning of Christmas.

You can easily find a lot of interesting photos and information on this year's Taunton Green Christmas celebration online:  Taunton Daily Gazette as well as with photos and information shared so well on I'm From Taunton Facebook page.

To read my posts from last Christmas about the Green please go to 2012 posts on the right of the blog, then find December 19th and 21st.  Thanks.

                       Thank you to Kathleen Campanirio for her assistance with this post.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !

This is a reposting of what I wrote for Thanksgiving some years back. It is always

relevant.  I pray that this year 2017 may bring us peace and harmony, such as so

many of us knew in our childhood in the 50's. Without cell phones, a constant media barrage of the horrific and the scandalous our hearts and minds could focus on family and being grateful for what we had.

I wish you that kind of Thanksgiving this year.

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Thanksgiving 2013 I posted this and it seems

right to use it again.  My memories simmer like gravy on the stove, 

loved laughter drifts through my mind, the taste of that special squash pie only my Aunt Eleanor could make, the smell of the apple pies that were my mother's specialty, the sound of the bubbling crispness of the turkey roasting in a brown paper bag in the oven, The smell and taste of Aunt Alveda's stuffing. The sound of children's feet as they sneaked into the kitchen for a taste of this and that, little fingers traveling the tabletop.  

The heat and heart of the kitchen from all the cooking and from all the love.

Happy Thanksgiving memories and dreams to all !

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This is a great photo of two of my wonderful aunts: Aunt Alveda and Aunt Eleanor.  

The light of their smiles lit up a room. This was some kind of 

a family get-together;

maybe Thanksgiving, maybe not.  But the message is there: of family, 

of place, of all the gifts

in our lives that started with being born into the place we were.

  I am thankful for everything, for 

my family and for the family of the School Street Village.

May Thanksgiving blessings be on each of

you and your families wherever you may have roamed. 

RIBBONS , RUFFLES AND ROSARIES - REMEMBERING FIRST COMMUNION DAYS IN THE VILLAGE

http://photo.net

As has often been said in this blog,  St. Anthony's Catholic Church on School Street was the Faith center of the Village. Liturgical events marked the passages of each person there.  Baptism as an infant was the first event.

When I was a child and before a baby did not go out of the house until he/she was baptized. This is a photo of one of my grand nieces on her Baptismal day.

 Back in those days it was felt that there were too many dangers- such as infectious diseases - that might harm the child.  Many families could still recall such times.

Baptism, then as now, marked a child as a Catholic and insured theirt heavenly destination should disaster befall.  

The next rite of passage was the sacramental rite of First Communion.  Not only did it mean a major milestone in the spiritual life of the child allowing that child to regularly receive Communion,it was a powerful Church and Family ritual.  It also initiated the child into an age group.  For us in the Village, that group was the one you took religion classes with, and probably the group you were with at Fuller School and onward. Many of us, those still among the living, still keep connected,  Even if we see each other infrequently the bond of the Village is always strong and supportive.

This is the oldest family First Communion photo in my collection.  Here is my Uncle Eddy: Edward Souza in 1927.  As it was at 7 years of age that a child received First Communion, I can date this accurately.

As was the case in the Souza Family of old, it is a formal photograph taken at the Boutin studios in Taunton. This was true for most families, the occasion almost rose to that of a wedding in terms of formality. There are two important things about this photo and the date.  My grandfather, Joseph Souza, died suddenly in a tragic fishing accident that year in July.  First Communion usually took place in early Spring. It is hard to know what date, but one has to wonder if the fact that he is dressed in black means that he had already lost his father.  At least for girls and for boys white was worn for this occasion.

Surfing through the incredible Pinterest posts I hit pay dirt. One of those times when 

an amateur historian and blogger lets out a "hoorah".

I found this photo on Pinterest of Frank Sinatra on the occasion of his First Communion.

Here he is in  black suit and stockings. This photo was taken in 1924.

Both Uncle Eddy and Frank have the white ties and the 

white ribbon on the left arm. They also have the

certificate of this event in their hands.

http://hollywood-legacy.tumblr.com/post/69797722822/

before-they-were-stars-young-9-year-old-frank

Portuguese families as well as many Catholic families love to celebrate religious occasions and  a child's First Communion called for just that. In the case of the Village, the old St. Anthony's would have been filled with proud parents and family members proudly watching a gaggle of 7 year old boys and girls.  Present would have been godmothers and godfathers, of special importance in the life of a child of Portuguese descent. Godmother is Portuguese is Madrinha, Godfather is Padrinha. A child shortened it early to Midinga or Minga and Padinha. They were beloved members of the family.

From  1906 to 1951 children at St. Anthony's would have made their First Communion in the dark old, subterranean basement Church, a prelude to the new bright one that would come in 1951.              

No doubt, the dark tones would have had an impact on the solemnity involved. The insert is that of Father Louro, first Pastor.  I received my First Communion from the very dear Monsignor Texeira whose simplicity and kindness was well known throughout the Diocese of Fall River.

To learn more about St. Anthony's please go to

http://schoolstvillage.blogspot.com/2013/02/faith-of-village.html

Children would have processed in the procession like the one below before or

after the Mass. I recognize each of these houses across from the Church, although this looks like the entrance to the newer Church, it was obviously taken in the early 50's from the dress and the cars.

The old Church had deep long stairs from the top ground entrance downward which were

often frightening for a small child.  Often processions with little ones came in at the side

whose stairs were much shorter.

Below is a 1925 Pinterest photo of two young girls at their

First Communion. Like Uncle Eddy's and Frank Sinatra's everything

is far more elaborate and in tune with fashions of the day. 

Here we see that candles complete the ensemble. The dresses

are long and modest.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/28333802@N04/10898700333/in/photostream/

These are St. Anthony First Communion studio portraits of a Village brother and sister: Arlene Rose Gouveia and her brother, Donny Rose.  The white suit replaces the somber

black one but the white arm ribbon  and neck tie remains.  

The certificate is gone and only the rosary remains.

Donald Rose : 1939

Arlene Rose: 1941

 For little girls, the elaborate headpiece still remains, although much simplified,

 as do the long whitegloves. The veil is still quite long. One might say these were small debutantes for the Lord. Here Arlene kneels on a kneeler. her dress also is shorter than the two

1925 children.

I received my First Communion  at the old St. Anthony's

in 1947. I was 7 years old. I kept my mouth closed  in the photograph

because I  had lost my front teeth.

Memories of that day: the silky feel of the white gloves and the

way my fingers felt in them. The stiffness of my veil and how I was

careful my veil and cap did not fall off.  My veil ends at the hem of my white dress,

Little shoes that had a tiny heel making me feel so grown up. The awe.  Feeling my little friends

in front and behind me supporting my long procession up the aisle to the alter rail, the start of friendships that would be lifelong. There was the emotion we youngsters felt on approaching this Holy of Holies the right way, of reaching out for the host correctly with our tongue and of not chewing it but rather swallowing it whole. A lot for a child to remember along with keeping our minds open to prayer and thanksgiving.  I remember a little gold edged prayerbook covered in white silk which I kept for a long time...but not long enough.

Each time I hear the hymn:" O, Lord I am not worthy..."

I am transported back to that day.

Here I am, long gloves and white stockings and all.

 Another contemporary of mine in her First Communion attire.

Finally, here is my sister, Mariellen, in her photograph (not studio for the first time)

and  her First Communion attire. She received her First Communion in the newer present Church

pictured here.

 No gloves, shorter white stockings. The veil, too, is shorter although the headdress is still quite fancy.   Maryellen's dress is shorter.  She has the sweetest smile of all my photos on this post. Still sweet ruffles and lace, white shoes and socks

and a white rosary.

First Communion memories can be found in our hearts.  Those that happened at a simpler time when liturgical events were an event for child, family and the Village.  It is a gift to revisit them, to

re-ignite the simplicity our our childhood Faith and trust.

We were innocent in a more innocent time.  Though it had its problems, they were not as multiplied as today and our Faith kept everything centralized and in its place. Those memories can still

light up our souls strengthening them when we  need them the most.

Times like these, they really can comfort and inspire.

Question: do we share such memory with our children and grandchildren?

My next blog will be about how we do that, pass on

the stories that inspire and share family history and keep such history 

safe for the future.

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SOURCES;

Photography from Arlene Rose Gouveia and

Sandra Souza Pineault

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About memories of First Communions:

http://americamagazine.org/issue/484/faith-focus/remembering

-first-communion

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Pinterest:

see links below each photo.