Luminarias: Lighting the Community Spirit

(Editor's note: This is a reminder to get your order in soon for Boy Scout luminarias, which are being assembled by Scouts and parent volunteers this weekend. Check out this feature story by Tia Benjamins and the see the contact information for each troop at the bottom of this story so you can make your orders.)

By Tia Benjamins

If you take a drive in San Marin and other neighborhood pockets of Novato on Christmas Eve, you will be treated to a local tradition that has united the neighborhood for several years running. Like clockwork every Christmas Eve, curbs, driveways and yards are lined with the traditional decorating symbols of the Southwest, known as luminarias or farolitos. You will see little rivers of light, "rios de luces,” as neighborhoods glow.                   

Each resident lines up the little brown paper bags, complete with candle and sand inside, along paths and driveways, walls and lawns, creating a visual and heartwarming glow of goodwill every Christmas Eve. This magical festival of light literally illuminates a community spirit rarely experienced these days.

“I remember being new to the community and driving home on Christmas Eve and seeing these rows and rows of lighted bags,” said Tim Elsmore, a local Scouting volunteer for almost 15 years. “I thought, 'This is incredible. What is it?'” 

Although many locals now associate luminarias with the holiday lighting of candles placed in small, brown, sand-filled bags, luminarias first appear historically around the 16th century as a Spanish tradition of lighting bonfires along the roads and churchyards to guide people to Midnight Mass on the final night of the celebration of Las Posadas.

The night of Las Posadas (Spanish word meaning inn or lodging) is a traditional, festive celebration that was first introduced to the native people of Mexico by European missionaries, and is the reenactment of the story of Mary and Joseph's search for lodging in Bethlehem. The tradition continues into modern times.  The decoration of rooftops, walls, sidewalks and driveways of individual homes with luminarias is used as a way of guiding travelers to their destination.

Novato began embracing this Southwestern tradition many years ago when local Boy Scouts began selling them in their fundraising efforts to help support their outdoor activities, including many community projects each year (maintaining and improving local parks and local facilities, environmental projects, etc.). Each November, Novato Scout troops canvas neighborhoods, delivering fliers that notify neighbors it’s time to order their luminarias. 

Then, on a December morning, in a Herculean logistics effort, the Scouts, their families and as many others as they can rope into it, gather for the big build. This involves several cubic yards of sand, a flat-loader truck, thousands of paper bags folded by hand (mostly over Thanksgiving while watching football!) and as many candles. Putting it all together and delivering hundreds of completed sets of 10 luminarias per cardboard “flat” (from recycled soda packaging) all on the same day requires a high level of teamwork and organization. It’s a positive and (dare I say it) enlightening experience all around.

“The build day is actually a lot of fun as well as a lot of hard work," said Elsmore, father of two Eagle Scouts. "And it’s truly an amazing sight to see the results on Christmas Eve. When every house in a neighborhood participates there really is a true sense of community.”

Join your neighbors this year and make your home warm and inviting with a one of a kind Southwestern flavor, by decorating with luminarias.  

HOW TO ORDER

Each of the city's scout troops services a different area of Novato.

For Troop 42 (downtown to West Novato, north of Novato Boulevard up through San Marin and the South Novato area surrounding Novato High School), call 973-1233 or order online at www.novato-troop42.org.

For Troop 82 (Ignacio, Loma Verde, Hamilton, Bel Marin Keys), call 382-6198 or e-mail jensenfamily2000@yahoo.com.

For Troop 200 (downtown to West Novato, south of Novato Boulevard) call 893-9732 or visit www.MarinT200.com/order.