What is a Christmas luminary?

A luminaria or farolito (see naming disagreement section below) is a small paper lantern (commonly a candle set in some sand inside a paper bag) which is of significance in the U.S. state of New Mexico in southwest United States at Christmas time, especially on Christmas Eve. They are also used in Hispanic culture.Click to see full answer. Hereof, what is the meaning of luminaries at Christmas?A little history on the luminary. Farolito means “little lantern” in Spanish, and luminary, or luminaria , means “festival light.” Traditionally, the term luminaria was used in reference to a vigil bonfire, though it’s primarily northern New Mexicans who have kept this distinction.One may also ask, what are the luminaries? The luminaries were what traditional astrologers called the two astrological “planets” which were the brightest and most important objects in the heavens, that is, the Sun and the Moon. Luminary means, source of light. The Moon is a luminary in the biblical sense that it affords to Man “light by night”. Also question is, what is the purpose of luminaries? Their luminaries light the wise men as they bring gifts to the Christ Child. In many European countries, Three Kings is the part of the festival in which gifts are given and feasting takes place.Are luminarias safe?Tea lights require daily maintenance, but electric luminarias are safe, easy and inexpensive—there’s no need to blow candles out at the end of the night, or check the amount of wax in each luminaria. You can make them at home, but it’s easy to order luminaria kits, candles, bags or lights online all at once.