Lutherville Community Association Luminaries

Lutherville Community Association Luminaries

During the holiday season Lutherville has always had luminaries.  This year the lighting of the luminaries has been moved to a new date - Sunday, December 18th. 

Although many people associate the luminaries with holiday lighting of candles placed in small, brown bags filled with sand, luminaries first appeared around the 16th century, as a Spanish tradition of lighting bonfires along the roads and churchyards to guide people to Midnight Mass on the final night of the celebration of Las Posadas.

The night of Las Posadas (Spanish word meaning lodging or inn) is a traditional, festive celebration that was first introduced to the native people of Mexico by European missionaries, and is the reenactment of the story of Mary and Joseph's search for lodging in Bethlehem. The tradition continues into modern times.  The decoration of rooftops, walls, sidewalks and driveways of individual homes with luminaries is used as a way of guiding travelers to their destination.

The candle lit brown paper bags are also called "farolitos," the Spanish word for little lanterns. In the early 19th century, U.S. settlers on the Santa Fe trail brought Chinese paper lanterns to hang from their portals and light their doorways. They were beautiful but expensive, and eventually, the paper bag version became the tradition.

Today, luminaries and farolitos have become an American holiday tradition and a southwestern tradition of welcome. As well as the traditional paper bags with candles, modern day versions also include the electric luminaries or farolitos.  In Lutherville the tradition lives on.  A few days before the event white paper bags are delivered to homes in the Community Association area with instructions for the Luminaries. 

This year the Luminaries Festivities are on December 18th.  Put some sand or kitty litter in the bottom of the bag to keep them from blowing away, then place a tea light candle in the bottom and light them around 5:00pm. 

Lutherville Community Association festivities also include a holiday party in Spangler Hall at St. Paul's Lutheran Church from 2-4 pm.  This includes a Cookie Baking Contest, Visit with Santa, Games for Children and much more. 

Hoiday Caroling starts at 6:30 pm, meet on the lawyn of St. Paul's Church.

The house decorating contest judging will also take place on the evening of December 18, 2011. 

For more information about events in the Lutherville Community Association area visit their website.