Luminaria return on Christmas Eve

The weather was favorable and participation was up for the 2019 Luminaria. (Mirror file photo).

Submitted by Barry Allen, Manchester Lions Club

Each year since the 1970s, the community has turned into a village of lights as the residents of Manchester light their luminaria at sunset on Christmas Eve.

The annual luminaria celebration will return this year with the Manchester Lions Club organizing the holiday tradition since taking over the project from the Manchester Area Historical Society several years ago. The Christmas Eve Luminaria will take place at dusk on Thursday night, December 24, during which time the residents of Manchester will place their luminaria along their walkways as a symbol of holiday peace.

The celebration has been hosted by numerous organizations over the years, most recently by the Manchester Area Historical Society under the direction of Carl Curtis out of the Blacksmith Shop, until it was passed to the Manchester Lions Club in 2008. The luminaria is a beautiful presentation along the streets of Manchester, which fits nicely with the Lions' mission of prevention of blindness and preservation of sight. What better way to demonstrate the gift of sight?

This year, the Lions will be selling the kits with drive through service from the garage of the Manchester Area Historical Society building, the Kingsley-Jenter House, on the corner of Main Street and M-52. Enter off of Main Street and stop by the orange cones in front of the garage. A Lion member will assist. You don’t even have to get out of your car. Luminaria kits consist of a tea candle that sits in a cup of sand in a white bag. A set of ten candles, sand, and bags costs only $5, with additional sets available. Most homes can use the 10-set kit.

Lions Club member Barry Allen said the price has remained the same for over ten years. “The luminaria project is a public service to the community; so we’ve kept the price as low as possible so everyone can participate.”

Sales will begin on Christmas week: Monday 21st, Tuesday 22nd, and Wednesday 23rd from 4 to 6 pm, and finally on Christmas Eve from 10 am to 4 pm.

In 2008 luminaria sales were at an all-time low when the Lions took over the project, down from almost 5,000 to less than half that number, partly due to waning interest and also from inclement weather on Christmas Eve. "To get more families to participate, we’ve kept the cost low," Allen added.

Many of the legacy traditions of Manchester -- the Chicken Broil, the Community Fair, and the Luminaria, are in danger without the support of the residents. You have to ask what you would do without them, and realize it’s a possibility they could go away. Please help by supporting these long time traditions to have them here for our children to enjoy in the future. This year, more than ever, our community needs to light the streets in peace and kindness.

The Manchester Lions Club sincerely thanks Farmers Sand & Gravel, the Manchester Area Historical Society, and the Village of Manchester for making this event possible.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.