Candles in a Bag? Christmas Tradition in New Mexico

The age-old question, are they called Farolitos of Luminarias? What am I talking about? Well, candles in bags - the New Mexico Christmas tradition.

You may have electric lights lighting up your house in your hometown. In New Mexico, we have luminarias - candlelight in a bag. It's a simple paper lunch bag (they use grocery bags in the video - way too big for most purposes) with a little bit of dirt and a lit votive candle. You see them in front of houses, in plazas, and churches all over New Mexico. 

Now, I call them "luminarias", because I'm from southern New Mexico. From Albuquerque south, this is what we call them. Northern New Mexicans will tell you that they are "farolitos". Luminarias for them are little bonfires. I've never seen a bonfire used in Christmas before, but apparently it's a thing.

Anyhow, if you live outside of New Mexico and what to freak our your neighbors, put together a few luminarias in front of your house. Just remember that they are live fire, so monitor them carefully and put them out before you go to bed.