Outside decorations for your home are typically expensive. Bargain shopping after the holidays is the best way to save money on outdoor holiday decorations, but the selection is limited. One easy method to brighten your home during the holidays is to use outdoor holiday décor like Luminarias along sidewalks and driveways.

Luminaria Description
A luminaria is a votive candle set inside a small decorative paper bag weighted with sand. The bags are usually colored and often perforated with designs through which the candle inside shows as bright pinpricks of light.

Origin of Luminarias
The custom of luminarias comes from Mexico and was practiced in New Mexico for many years before spreading throughout the United States. It is derived from a similar holiday custom of the Pueblo peoples in New Mexico. On Christmas Eve they build a bonfire, called a luminaria, outside each house.

Placement of Outdoor Holiday Decor
Take a look around your home and decide where you want your luminarias to be located. Measure the length of that pathway or sidewalk, and then double it as you will want both sides of the path to be lit. Calculate how many luminaria bags you’ll need. Plan on placing them approximately nine inches to two feet apart; the closer together you place them, the more bags and votive candles you will need and the more light they will produce.

Be Creative
Consider using colorful lunch size bags- red and green for Christmas rather than plain brown bags. Although, typically brown bags provide a brighter light since they are more transparent.

If you are feeling creative, you can stencil a design on the side of each of them that faces the pathway, and cut them out. Angels and stars are popular and actually quite simple to design. . Stencils are available at crafts stores or in the school and office supply aisle of discount stores. You might also find something in your home that you can trace and make a pattern from.

Luminarias Safety
Purchase enough sand to put about two cups per bag. You might want to consider purchasing candle votives in short glass candle holders so the flame is contained. It is important to keep safety your top priority when using luminarias to decorate with. Make sure you set the candle down deep enough in the sand that it is secure. They work best in dryer climates, which makes it imperative that you keep a close eye on them and make sure they do not tip over and are kept away from debris that can easily catch fire. Do not use them on breezy nights, and if the snow or rain starts to fall, try to get them inside as soon as possible so they aren’t ruined.

Luminarias add a nice, soft glow to the outdoor area of your home during the holidays. These inexpensive and easy to make outside holiday decorations give any yard a lovely tone. Another idea is to create some decorative Luminaria for indoor holiday décor. Using colorful bags and cutting patterns in the sides of the bags, you can have matching indoor and outdoor holiday decorations. For an added touch, use scented candles for the indoor Luminaria.

As editor and author for several gift related websites, Loren Bailey writes to provide helpful tips and suggestions for online consumers as found in the Christmas decorating article above. He contributes regularly sharing his thoughts and ideas to assist online shoppers in making more qualified decisions about their purchases.