How to Make Holiday Luminaries

By Julie M. Young

Luminaries are a classic holiday decoration, and a beautiful addition to the exterior of any home.  For as much beauty as they bring, they are unbelievably simple to make with just a few inexpensive items that you might already have in your home. 

Line your sidewalk or driveway with luminaries to welcome guests for your holiday feast, or set them out the evening before Christmas or New Year’s Day.  If you’re lucky enough to have a white Christmas, you’ll see that the luminaries are most beautiful when they shine their light through the snow. 

To make your own luminaries, you will need:

• Votive candles (look for long burning)
• White paper bags, lunch-sized
• Sand or kitty litter
• Long lighter (like you’d use for the grill)
  

Step 1
Decide where to place your luminaries.  Measure the area.  For closely placed luminaries, figure one for every foot.  For wider spaced luminaries, place them every two feet. 

Step 2
Unfold the bags, and turn the openings over 1 inch so that the bag is more stable.

Step 3
Fill each bag with 2 inches of sand.  This will be around 2 cups.  If you don’t have sand, you can use kitty litter.  Because kitty litter is lighter than sand, you’ll use more—3 inches or 3 cups.  Sand or kitty litter is vital.  It keeps the luminary from blowing over and safeguards against fire.    

Step 4
Place the bags outside where you would like them.  When night falls, it will be time to light them.

Step 5
Nestle the candle into the sand (or kitty litter).  With the long lighter, light the candle.  If you don’t have a long lighter, light the candles before placing them in the bags.

Your luminaries are complete!  Remember to snuff out the candles before you turn in for the night.  The next morning (or if you’re a night owl), pick up the bags.  If the bag is damp, carefully pick up the bag.  You don’t want the bottom to fall out and sand to get all over.

Tips

You can jazz up your luminaries quite easily.  Here are a few ideas:

• Use a decorative hole punch along the top of the bag.
• Change out the white bags with brown or colored bags.
• If it isn’t windy, cut patterns in the side of the bags to let more light out decoratively.  You can trace cookie cutters and then cut out the shape to add a festive motif.
• Get the whole neighborhood involved!  Pick a night when you and your neighbors can all set out luminaries.  Lines of luminaries throughout a neighborhood or town are a beautiful way to celebrate the holidays. 
• Though it isn’t necessary, you can use glass votive candle holders to catch the wax.
• Instead of bags, use cans with holes punched in the side.  Or, collect clear plastic jugs (like those from gallons of milk).  Cut a whole in the side of the jug, fill with sand, and add the candle.  This is a more weatherproof, long-lasting luminary. 
• Snow or rain in your forecast?  Wrap the bottom of the luminary in a plastic bag or plastic wrap to keep it from getting wet.  
• Use luminaries year-round.  Turn the white bags into a parade ghosts for Halloween.  Use them to light summertime parties when dusk falls, or use them to set a romantic glow for a special evening outside.
  
  

Caution: For outdoor use only.  Never leave your home while your luminaries are lit, and make sure the luminaries are far away from anything that could accidentally be set on fire. 

Need Christmas decorating ideas? Think beyond the poinsettia!