Following a half century tradition, boy scouts from Troop 42 gathered in the freezing morning hours at Harvest Market's parking lot to build holiday luminarias, this past Saturday.
Armed with folded brown paper bags, candles and a semi-truck bed full of sand, scouts, parents, families and friends took on the herculean task of building thousands of luminarias.
Each bag was carefully filled with a scoop of sand, a candle and placed in flats of 10 as they made their way down an assembly line for inspection before being loaded into waiting delivery vehicles.
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Families who buy these luminarias, light the candles and place them outside their homes on Christmas Eve, following a longstanding Novato tradition.
Troop 42, Novato’s oldest boy scout troop, began selling these luminarias, in San Marin, over 50 years ago as a fundraising effort to help support troop activities. Over the years, other troops have joined them to spread this cheerful tradition throughout Novato.
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Luminarias have been around for hundreds of years in the United States and are particularly popular in the Southwest states.
Novato Troop 42 wishes to thank the Novato Community for embracing this tradition, wishes you a happy holidays, and looks forward to seeing your holiday luminarias glow bright this Christmas Eve!
HOW TO ORDER
Each of the city's scout troops services a different area of Novato.
Troop 42 covers the San Marin area north of Novato Boulevard and west of Simmons Lane, “The Presidents” area around Novato High School, and Hamilton. Order online at www.novato-troop42.org or call 415.937.1233.
Troop/Crew 82 covers Loma Verde, Pacheco Valle and the Marin Country Club (south) side of Ignacio Boulevard. Order by e-mailing Crew82Lum@gmail.com.
Troop 200 covers downtown Novato to West Novato, on the southwest side of Novato Boulevard from Diablo Avenue to Sutro Avenue, the Olive Avenue area, Atherton Avenue area, Bel Marin Keys and the north side of Ignacio Boulevard (from Entrada to Turner drives and Pointe Marin) order at www.novatoluminarias.org
