Christmas Eve - a very special time. In our neighborhood we have a tradition of lighting luminaries along the entire street on Christmas Eve. It has become quite an attraction and many people drive through on their way to or from evening church services. The candles we use stay lit from about 4:30 p.m. (dusk) until the wee hours of the morning (one year I finshed wrapping after 2 a.m. and they were still going strong).
The first step is the folding of the bags. I am very particular about this - the tops must be folded under twice and creased to stay away from the candles. I sat in this rocking chair and folded 70 bags this afternoon (if only the Cricut could do that for me!).
Next, my husband adds a couple of scoops of sand and the candle to the bag. We were lucky this year - the weather is cold but no rain and not windy - perfect conditions for the luminaries. If it rains too hard we have to move the date and it just isn't the same....
Then the bags are carried out to the street and spaced as evenly as possible by our sons. We usually do them for our neighbors across the street since they go away at Christmas but don't want there to be a "gap" in the coverage.
The snow takes care of any unintentional mini-bonfires - fortunately that doesn't happen very often (usually only if it is windy).
Here is the view down the street - I had to wait for a chance to take a photo when no cars were driving through. The effect is really magical and it is fun to have a few minutes to catch up with neighbors as we all get our luminaries set up and then wander along the street enjoying the lights and the candles.
We'll be off to the late church service soon. One more tradition that has to happen on Christmas Eve is the opening of the handmade ornaments from Grandma Felicia. She has been making dated ornaments for all of the grandchildren and great nieces and nephews for many years now and each of our sons has a nice collection of special ornaments.
I hope you all are having a relaxing and cozy time with family and friends. Merry Christmas!
Oh my... even these photos look magical, I can barely imagine what it looks like in person! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful, and such a wonderful tradition to have with the neighbourhood. I wish I could see it in person, but thank you very much for sharing the photos!
ReplyDeleteLooks beautiful Diane!!! Our neighborhood does the same thing and the firetruck with Santa visits all the children and hands out wrapped gifts and candy...such a great tradition that our children, now grown, still look forward to (and our son-in-law is a volunteer fireman on the truck..he's 6'6" and is a very big 'elf'...although he was also 'Santa' one year!!!).
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and Happy, Healthy New Year!!
Terry
Wow. No wonder so many people drive down your street! Thanks for posting your pics and your story on how to do it. I've never done it, but do admire the look. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeletePhotos look great. SInce I live in Southern California, I can only wish for a white Christmas once in my life, well I've been watching "WHite Christmas" all day so I can try to imagine I'm there.
ReplyDeleteHave A WOnderful Christmas.
Clara
Oh, what a nice tradition, and nice neighbors! I would love to walk down your magical street. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete~Rachel in Sacramento
Just beautiful, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Merry Christmas to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteshortscrapper
I love the look of luminaries and have "electic powered" ones for my walks and driveway.
ReplyDeleteI think your ornament tradition is so neat and one I share with my mom and sister too.
We started setting out luminaries on Christmas Eve several years ago when we lived near Sacramento and our entire neighborhood participated. Since then, we have moved a couple of times - but we continue the tradition every year. In fact, when we got up this morning at around 7, our candles were still burning. Thanks so much for sharing these lovely pictures.
ReplyDeleteMERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.
ReplyDeleteWHAT BEAUTIFUL PICS
Oh Diane, the effect is lovely!!! I love the post about the ornaments. This way all the children (now of course adults) will have a good start on their ornaments when they celebrate with their own families when that time comes. Too sweet!
ReplyDeleteI'm still in the keeping of the ornament stage at my house, but I'm sure it won't be long before the special ornaments go with my kids for their own trees.
Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!!!!
Lisa Sturgill
Lisa Sturgill
Beautiful! Our neighborhood does a luminary walk each year too. Not on Christmas Eve (I think too many people go away for the holiday) but usually between Halloween and Thanksgiving. And then the whole neighborhood seems to come out of their houses for an enjoyable walk.
ReplyDeleteIt really does make for a wonderful effect to see all of the luminaries down the sidewalks.
Thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas
absolutely beautiful diane! you will have to let me know what neighborhood this is so we can drive by next xmas and look at it. we are always on the search for amazing displays of christmas lights.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tradition! On my street we wrap the trees with tin foil and and then wrap them with ribon to look like a candy cane and do the mail box too to look like a present. We might have to add the luminaries to ours next year too!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!! I thought luminarias were a New Mexico tradition and I love the idea that they are more widespread!! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDelete