Christmas light gawkers were severely disappointed tonight

[BrewerJohn]

We have this tradition in my town of a luminaria display on a designated Sunday night during the Christmas season. What it is, luminaria, is lining the sidewalks with white paper bags with candles inside. The city organizes volunteers from each neighborhood to distribute the bags (with sand in the bottom to keep them in place); we supply the candles and light them. It's a nice effect when it works.

But not on a night like tonight, when the wind is gusting up to 30 mph or so. It's a bit discouraging when you get one lit and then look back to see that the last four have been blown out. I worked on it for about half an hour before giving up. My neighbors fared no better. So all the cars and Stupid Useless Vehicles that crept down our street with occupants expecting to be wowed by the display might as well have saved their gas.

On the other hand, my street is the most nutso, insane electric-light-stringing street in town, so I suppose they got something for the trouble. But that's another rant.

[regnaD kciN]

1. Luminaria in Coralville, Iowa???

Seems a bit out-of-place for a Latino tradition. I saw it done once in a town north of San Diego, and it was breathtaking.

OTOH, I'm glad we don't do it up here near Seattle. With steady 30-40 MPH winds, and gusts up to 75, we would probably have wound up burning down the neighborhood!

[madrchsod]

3. no, it`s pretty much all over the country now

milk or pop jugs work pretty well also

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

5. We used to use white paper bags ...

with a bit of sand to weigh them down , then a small clear plastic cup , lit with white tea candles . It was a sight to see as you drive down the street .

[madrchsod]

2. wind? we hit 45-50 gusts

today in northern illinois, not much better tomorrow..

[mark11727]

4. I googled "Luninaria" (images) and found this amoung others...