What Is a Luminary, and What Is Its Purpose?
A luminary is a decorative light, often used during Christmas and the winter in general. It can be as simple as a candle in a paper bag or jar. Today, many people use electric lights for safety and ease. A luminary light produces a warm, cheerful glow. Luminaries are known by several other names, including farolito ("little lantern") and luminaria ("festival light"). The purpose of luminaries is to provide decoration and a small amount of light.
What Do Luminaries Symbolize?
Luminaries have traditionally symbolized vigil bonfires as part of celebrations in New Mexico and elsewhere in the Southwestern United States, though they have their roots in pre-Christian indigenous culture. When used as part of Christmas celebrations, luminaries — which were originally pinon branches — were believed to provide a beacon leading to the home. They still have symbolism related to guiding religious figures to one's home. Luminaries' meaning has also expanded to encompass the holiday spirit, belief, love, hospitality and peace.
Are Luminaries a Fire Hazard?
Traditional luminaries composed of a candle and a paper bag can be unsafe, but many fire-safe options are available today. Electric luminaries use bulbs and a shade like other types of functional and decorative lights and are completely safe when used according to manufacturers' directions. Any luminary that uses a candle should be used only under supervision and kept away from children.
Always be sure to use the correct bulb for any kind of lighting to prevent fires, and use the light correctly.
Types of Luminaries
A wide range of luminaries is available. Explore these decorative options to create the perfect holiday or winter environment.
1. Lighted Spire Ornaments
Pyramid-shaped luminaries made from corrugated plastic look ethereal set in snow. Poke holes in the plastic and insert LED string lights under the forms to create lighted outdoor Christmas trees.
2. Bucket Luminaries
Add rustic Christmas decorations to your landscape with bucket luminaries. Set birch or other logs into a shiny pail, add fresh greenery and drape with plug-in or battery-operated Christmas string lights.
3. Metal Mesh Luminaries
Create silvery columns from aluminum sheet metal, which comes in different patterns. Use tin snips to cut the sheets, then form the tall columns by tying the ends together with 4-inch cable ties. Slip string lights inside.
4. Vinyl Luminaries
Create path lights to guide holiday guests to your door with these can-style luminaries. Drill holes into plastic flashing, form it into cylinders, set it on the ground and add LED lights or candles.
5. Jar Lanterns
Wrap wire around canning jars to form handles. Drop in an LED candle and hang the lantern from a Christmas garland or an outdoor tree. These canning jar lanterns are easy and inexpensive to make.
6. Ice Luminaries
A flicker of light through ice is magical indeed. To make this ice luminary, insert a smaller container into a larger one, pour water into the in-between space, add greenery and let it freeze. Then remove the bowl-shaped frozen luminary and insert votives or waterproof LED candles. Another great idea: Add red berries or orange slices with the greenery before freezing.
7. Jelly Jar Lanterns
Give landscapes a touch of rustic style with these simple glass-and-metal lanterns. Use clear caulk to attach storm collars (metal collars used to help waterproof chimneys) to jelly jar glass globes. Scatter the lanterns across a snowy yard or line them up neatly along a railing or walkway.
8. Screen-Wrapped Luminaries
Wrap a glass jar in a square of aluminum screening and cinch it in place with wire. Add lights and set several of these screen stars outside where they can shine.
9. Lighted Columns Decoration
Ceiling light panels rolled into tubes with LED candles placed inside give off a frosty glow. These oversized column luminaries are set in a water heater drip pan adorned with greenery and shatterproof ornaments for a big, festive display indoors or out.