The Luminaria

An age old tradition

“Lighting up Gate Post Estates” with Luminaria is a tradition in our community.  The simplicity of the Luminaria (a brown bag, sand and a single candle) provides a striking example of how one simple light, when gathered together in great numbers, can transform any environment.  When lit, the community becomes a beautiful spectacle of shimmering roads of light.  The tradition has its roots in the Southwest and Mexico, where the simple lanterns were used by the people as part of an elaborate community re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.

What Am I Supposed to Do?

Volunteers from throughout the development (Gate Post I and Gate Post II) create and deploy the over 2500 bags on the streets during the afternoon of December 12th, and the residents are asked to light those in front of your house at 5:00pm.  If your neighbor isn’t home, feel free to light theirs and any others near you.  The Luminaria should last a couple of hours.  After they extinguish themselves, you are asked to pick those up in front of your house and simply throw them away.  Please wait until 5:00pm or sundown to light your Luminaria.

Is There Anything I Can Do to Help?

Yes! And we need the help!

The Volunteers will be setting the Luminaria out beginning at about 2:00pm.  If you and kids would like to help, please be on the lookout for the deployment vehicles, and feel free to join in and help set them on the shoulder of the road.  We will set one bag approximately every 8 feet, or three paces apart and, of course, skip the driveways.  Line both sides of the main road first, and then down the pipe stems as supplies permit.  This is a task where many hands make light work!

Are There Any Special Instructions for Driving the Streets During the Evening?

Yes.  Please drive SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY down the streets during the period the Luminaria are burning.  You will find many of your neighbors walking the streets, taking in the spectacle.  For that reason, everyone is cautioned to PLEASE OBSERVE THE 25 MPH SPEED LIMIT.