luminaries christmas

Luminaries line the walkways in towns across America. Credit: Peter Laz, Flickr

Luminaries, luminarios, or farlitos. Whatever you call them, these paper bags filled with sand and topped off with a candle are a staple of outdoor Christmas decorations, seen most often in the Southwest.

This time of year, luminaries line paths and walkways in a tradition at least partially adopted from Central and South America. Legends vary, but on top of being nice to look at, luminaries are supposed to light the path to guide the spirit of Christ, the Holy Family, or even good ol' St. Nick.

Although luminaries and farlitos have come to mean the same thing, luminary actually refers to bonfires, while farlito is Spanish for paper lantern. And whatever you call them, or whatever legend you believe, in the end you can make these Christmas decorations with common materials to create a striking and quaint display of Christmas tradition.

For more Christmas decorations ideas check out ShelterPop.