Keep lighting the way–here’s how!
After the past few weeks of reading luminaria articles, are you ready to participate, or are you confused?
If your answer is “ready,” then all you will need to get ready are these instructions: Pick up your candle kits in the garage of the Kingsley-Jenter House (302 E. Main Street), starting Friday, December 21st, 10 am – 4 pm; Saturday, 22nd, 10 am – 4 pm; Sunday, December 23rd, 10 am – 2 pm; and Christmas Eve, 10 am – 4 pm. Simple assembly is required at home, then set your bags out on the afternoon of Christmas Eve and light them at dusk. Voila! Instant Christmas beauty in your front yard!
For luminaria newbies and those who may be undecided or confused, here’s a quick recap:
Manchester’s luminaria tradition was started in 1977 by Karen Hinkley, who tried to light up all of Ann Arbor Hill (M-52 north of the four-way stop) with lighted paper bags containing sand and candles, emulating a much older custom started in the Southwest United States and Mexico. The first year, Karen did this on her own and in subsequent years enlisted the help of friends as the idea spread throughout town. In 1982, the Manchester Area Historical Society took on the task of making this tradition grow even further. For many years, the strong support of the community helped it continue, but a few years of bad weather put a damper (literally and figuratively) on the candle-lit streets of Manchester.
The numbers started getting smaller each year, from a high of 10,000 or so bags to about a quarter of that in 2008. Enter the Manchester Lions Club, who has attempted to make this a more visible and viable tradition. It’s growing again … but slowly. More people need to participate to restore this lovely community sight on Christmas Eve.
It may not yet be accurate to say that Manchester’s luminaria tradition is “endangered,” but if people are no longer able or willing to participate, this beautiful, long-standing celebration could become but a memory of Christmas past.
If you’d like to participate in Manchester’s revitalization efforts–in your own front yard or in the downtown area–you can! The “Make it Manchester” committee is starting a new volunteer opportunity called “One Task, One Time” (OTOT). Its first project is helping to light luminaries in the downtown business district, starting at 4 pm on Christmas Eve. Contact Sue LaRocque at River Raisin Antiques, who is helping to organize this OTOT event, to participate.
“This should take no longer than an hour,” says LaRocque. “We have 150 bags to fill and light. The more help we get, the quicker we can all return home.
“Together, we can make this town even better!”
Once you return home, you can confidently light your own luminaria! Just follow the simple instructions above, and you, too, can add to the beauty of Christmas Eve in our community.
Do your part to keep lighting the way in Manchester, starting this Christmas!
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Luminaria tips:
- Use about 1 cup of sand in each bag. Place the votive candle firmly in the middle.
- To help keep candles from blowing out, make a cuff (folded inside the bag) about 1″ from the top.
- Make sure the wicks on your votive candles are pointed up to make it easier to light.
- A long-handled electronic lighter is an indispensable tool for luminaria lighting!
- A set of 10 kits ($5) is ample for most lots in town. If you have an extra-large lot, or live on a corner, the Lions can help you figure out how many you’ll need. Extra kits are available at a nominal cost from the Lions Club during their regular luminaria hours.
- Luminaria hours: garage of the Kingsley-Jenter House (302 E. Main Street), starting Friday, December 21st, 10 am – 4 pm; Saturday, 22nd, 10 am – 4 pm; Sunday, December 23rd, 10 am – 2 pm; and Christmas Eve, 10 am – 4 pm.
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