Luminarias

Luminarias are small light sources used to illuminate spaces for festive occasions. They can refer to various types of luminaries, including paper lanterns and small paper bags weighted with sand and containing a candle. The term derives from Spanish luminaria, from Latin lumen, meaning light or lamp. In the Southwestern United States, luminarias are closely associated with Christmas and community decorations.

In New Mexico and parts of the Southwest, the word luminaria commonly describes outdoor bags with candles placed along sidewalks, driveways, and rooftops, collectively forming a glowing border of light on Christmas Eve. In that regional usage, the term for the traditional indoor paper lanterns hung in windows is farolito (or farol in Spanish); however, usage varies by community and sometimes luminaria can be used for both. The effect is to create a gradual glow along streets and courtyards during the holiday season.

Outside the regional context, luminarias can refer to any decorative light or small lantern used for illumination—historically candles or oil lamps inside paper or wire frames, nowadays often replaced by LED or solar-powered versions for safety.

Safety considerations include the risk of fire with open candles in flexible paper, and many communities encourage or require non-flammable materials or electric alternatives in dense urban settings.