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Luminarias and FarolitosBy Boise Matthews If there's one thing that can be said about New Mexico in December, it is that it's the brightest state in the country. The entire state glows! If there is any sort of straight edge, such as the curb of a road or the rim of a roof, then there will be a line of fires, small or large. Everywhere you turn, from the largest city to the smallest community, there are "rios de luces," rivers of lights. But which are which? Luminarias are small bonfires. Since the 16th century, they have burned alongside the road or in churchyards to commemorate the birth of Christ and to guide people to midnight mass on the final night of Las Posadas. "Farolitos," Spanish for "little lanterns," are candles set in brown paper bags filled with sand. Traditionally, they decorate the rooftops, walls, sidewalks and driveways of individual homes. 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 entranceways. They were beautiful but expensive, and eventually, the paper bag version became the tradition. I'm not sure how to make luminarias other than building a small bonfire using pyramids of ocote or pinon wood, but I can tell you how to make farolitos. It's really pretty simple. First, go to the grocer and get some small paper bags. Fold down the edges of the bag and fill it about half full with sand. Place a votive candle in the center of the sand. Line your driveway, porch, or rooftop with the bags, and when it's dark, light the candles. Voilá! Your own "Rio de Luces!" One last piece of advice. If you happen to visit New Mexico in December, and you happen to be very tall and thin, don't fall asleep. There is a good chance that when you wake up, you'll be covered with farolitos.
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