Leafy Luminaria

By Excerpted from Christmas Customs: Hearth and Home (by the editors of Creative Publishing). Among the most beautiful sights of the Christmas season are streets and pathways lined with glowing luminaries.

This tradition dates back to 17th-century Spain, when townspeople lit bonfires along the town paths, symbolically lighting the way to Bethlehem for Mary and Joseph. The tradition spread to Mexico and later to the American Southwest, where parades of worshipers walked fire lit pathways to church on Christmas Eve. Eventually candles in weighted paper bags took the place of open fires, an idea that may have been inspired by traditional paper Chinese lanterns. In northern climates, luminaries are often fashioned by placing candles in blocks of ice or hollowed-out snowbanks, heightening the candles' glow. Many centuries after that first journey to Bethlehem, rows of flickering lights guide visitors all over the world and welcome them to holiday celebrations and worship services.

I've been doing some fun research for "green" holiday decorating ideas. I came across iced Luminaries and absolutely fell in love with it! The lovely Leafy Luminaries video can be found Here! Better.TV has great decorating, inexpensive holiday ideas (some are "green" and some are not). Enjoy the link to the video! Only two more weeks until Christmas!!!!