Guarino-Seddio House Christmas Display

Wonderful tradition the Guarino and Seddio families are keeping up for the neighborhood. People come from all over Canarsie and other areas to view the beautiful display. They arrive with family and friends or even by themselves to enjoy the lights and holiday spirit. It makes me proud to call Canarsie home.

This Christmas display has a half-​century-​old history. The house’s current owner, former assemblyman and surrogate court judge Frank Seddio continued the decorating tradition started by the previous owner, Frank Guarino of the Guarino Funeral Home.
The lighting event in early December has a Santa to greet the children, musical entertainment, and a ceremony to pay tribute to a community activist. The animated figures include Disney, Sesame Street and Smurf characters, a Winter Wizard reciting a Christmas story, and more. Oh yeah, and a nativity scene is all the way over there in the garage… I guess because there was no room at the inn. There’s also a little Hanukkah and Kwanzaa display.
It’s one of few things in Canarsie that hasn’t changed, and it’s a fond memory for me and lots of other people who grew up there (check out the pictures on Facebook). I got nostalgic and went to see it on New Year’s Eve with my parents and my nearly-​grown kids. It’s still wonderful.