The Origins of Christmas Legends and Traditions We Didn’t Know

In the American Southwest, a tradition dating back over 300 years brings a warm glow to the holiday season. Simple yet elegant, luminarias—folded brown bags filled with sand, illuminated by votive candles—line the sidewalks and churches of cities like Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

This quaint custom transforms ordinary spaces into twinkling pathways of light. Phoenix, Arizona, takes this tradition to a grand scale with its annual Las Noches de las Luminarias event at the Desert Botanical Garden, where more than 8,000 luminaria bags create a mesmerizing spectacle, celebrating a centuries-old tradition with a modern flair.