Italian Festival Celebrates Tradition and Community

By: Edir Coronado
Monday, September 5th, marked the end of Labor Day weekend and the four-day Italian Festival held in Scotch Plains, hosted by the UNICO Scotch Plains-Fanwood Chapter, St. Bartholomew Church, and St. Bartholomew Academy. People of all backgrounds made their way through the church parking lot to the large yard area, which had been turned into a carnival style fiesta. Participants had the option of enjoying a variety of Italian dishes or partaking in several thrilling rides and games.
While the festival this year was a success, like it’s always been, this celebration was much different in its early years than recent times. Laura Swiderski, was born and raised in Scotch Plains and has been a member of the St. Bartholomew parish since it was established in 1948. She recalls a different event. Laura, who volunteers to help with the festival as a representative of the church, was recruited by Mark Ginder, two years after the Festival first started.
When the first festival was held in 1974, she explains, the church didn’t own the lot or much property. The church used a portable altar to hold a Mass, and at the end of the festival, a firework display was held for the community. As the church grew the town grew with it. The fireworks show had to be cancelled because of the proximity to the homes, instead new carnival rides were added to the festival annually.
Attractions weren’t the only new additions, UNICO and St. Bartholomew Church began creating new ways to raise money for noble causes. This year festival goers had the opportunity to donate to the Relief Fund, to support victims of a recent earthquake that had occurred in Italy. St. Bartholomew Church accepted donations for their 9/11 Luminary Remembrance and for a 5-dollar contribution a donor could have the name of a victim added to their prayers.
The amount of food and those who prepared it for the festival is also different these days. Renato Beribin, who helped establish UNICO chapters in Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Westfield, and Clark, spoke about church members preparing all of the food. Renato began organizing the festival a couple years after Laura and remembers the smell of freshly cooked pasta fagioli. While the food and attractions have changed, the atmosphere remains the same.
Renato explains the festival is in celebration of Saint Nicholas De Bari, Patriot Saint of the town Montazzoli, Italy and Saint Bartholomew. On Saturday September 3rd, the church held a Mass in his honor. It is clear that the hopes of holding this festival are to instill tradition and community togetherness. After 42 years this notion seems to be working well and Bill Mariani is a perfect example.
Bill who represents both the St. Bartholomew Church, and UNICO which is an international Italian service organization, was working alongside Laura and Renato at this year’s festival. “I was born and raised in the parish,” explained Bill. Bill was born in Scotch Plains, Laura and Renato met Bill when he was one-year of age. They passed on the tradition to him and Bill is sure to pass on the tradition to the younger generation.