Christmas in the Southwest is a beautiful time. Many travelers visit destinations like the Grand Canyon, stay in beautiful Taos vacation homes, and walk along the San Antonio Riverwalk for a special celebration for the holiday season. Because many areas have mild temperatures at night, outdoor celebrations have become Christmas traditions. Lighting the way to a holiday season in the Southwest includes a popular tradition involving luminaries or lanterns . Simply put, these are candles that are carefully placed on the sand inside a bag, providing a warm glow at night.
History of lights and lanterns
These lights have their roots in the 19th century. Small bonfires, like the current bonfires on the corners of Canyon Road in Santa Fe, were used to guide people to Christmas mass. Most often, they settled during the last night of Las Posadas, which is the symbolic representation of when Mary and José sought refuge in Bethlehem as they walked from house to house before Jesus was born. In later days, the children carried small lanterns while recreating Las Posadas. Similar celebrations take place in Santa Fe every night, for nine nights before Christmas, and include rituals such as songs, prayers, and large parties.
How to use lights and lanterns
People use light fixtures or lanterns today to decorate the path to their doorstep and outline the roof line of their home with warm, inviting lights. Those in Albuquerque tend to call the paper bag lanterns “luminaries,” but Santa Fe natives insist the correct term is “farolitos.” Historically, a true luminary is a series of small bonfires lining the roads, while a lantern is a small paper lantern. Regardless, the two terms are used interchangeably today.
How to make your own lights
Making lights or lanterns is quite easy. People can buy paper bags, votive candles, and sand at their local craft store. Crafty people often cut festive shapes out of the bags for an added festive touch. To make your own lights, simply fill each bag with several inches of sand and press the votive candle into the center so the flame doesn’t touch the paper. To avoid the risk of fire, you can also use battery-operated electric candles.
For the newbie, start by lining up your walkway, rather than your ceiling. It is best to choose a dry night with little wind for this project. Votive luminaires, or tea lights, generally burn for about four hours before going out.
Where to See the Southwest Holiday Light Displays
The following venues put on a show for some of the most impressive Christmas light displays in the Southwest region:
- Canyon Road Farolito Walk : In Santa Fe, more than 30,000 people gather on Canyon Road on Christmas Eve to view the thousands of lanterns in courtyards, galleries and adobe houses.
- River of Lights : The River of Lights at the Albuquerque Botanical Gardens is New Mexico’s largest light show, featuring millions of twinkling lights and luminaries in 500 holiday displays.
- Nights of the Luminaries : The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, holds its annual Electric Desert during the month of December. It features 8,000 hand-lit fixtures and thousands of Christmas lights.
- The Tlaquepaque Luminaire Festival : In Sedona, Arizona, visitors sip cider and explore the 6,000 illuminated luminaries around Tlaquepaque as part of its Festival of Lights.
- The Luminaria Festival : On Christmas Eve, there are luminaries located throughout Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico that visitors can tour to see.
