Photo by Bill Croney, The Northfield News Students from Lorraine Monmaney's Northfield High Choral Group provided Christmas and Holiday music for the Tree Lighting Ceremony on the common last Friday night. This year instead of importing a tree, the real tree on the common was strung with lights. There was a nip in the air, but no white stuff on the ground last Friday night. But the lack of a little snow didn’t dampen the spirit of the crowd of nearly fifty people who gathered on the Common for the annual tree lighting ceremony. The crowd started to gather around 5:45 p.m. as the 15 members of Lorriane Monmaney’s Northfield High Choral group started their acapella renditions of Christmas and Holiday songs.

The audience was invited to sing along and a festive spirit ensued despite the lack of snow.

At 6 p.m. the switch was thrown and the lights on the real tree in the center of the common came to life. This year marked a change over past procedures. Previously a tree was imported and decorated, but this year the sponsors elected to use the nearly 50 foot spruce that grows near the middle of the green.

The American Legion Post played host to Santa when he stepped down from a Northfield Fire truck shortly after the lighting of the tree.

For anyone who grew up in Northfield in the 1950’s last Friday night on the Common provided a familiar sight. All the parking spaces all around the Common were filled, traffic was heavy and many of the businesses lights burned brightly.

At the TDS store Nikki Hebert, a TDS employee said that there was more to it than just a tree. “ We used the existing tree on the Common and put lights on it. We also decorated all the posts around the Common and put the wreaths up on the lights. It’s something we really enjoy doing. We’ve been doing it for years. We love to see the kids come out and see Santa. Having the lights on the common just looks beautiful,” she said.

Ms. Hebert also mentioned the local girl scouts contribution. “We have Girl Scout Daisy Troop #408 here tonight. The Daisy troopers are ages five to seven and are from Northfield’s kindergarten and first grade.

They are collecting food for the CERV foodshelf tonight," Ms Hebert said.

Chris Rea, from East Roxbury, was in attendance with his Daisy trooper daughter and he was impressed. “We came down to bring a non-perishable food item and then to see Santa and watch the tree lighting . I think it’s a wonderful thing. It’s a good way to bring the community together and to bring everybody together to do something safe and fun,” Mr. Rea said.