luminaria

(redirected from Luminarias)
Also found in: Encyclopedia.

lu·mi·nar·i·a

 (lo͞o′mə-nâr′ē-ə)
n.
1. A votive candle set into a small, decorative paper bag weighted with sand and placed in a row with others along a walkway, driveway, or rooftop as a holiday decoration. Also called regionally farolito.
2. New Mexico A bonfire built in front of each house in a pueblo to celebrate Christmas Eve.

[Spanish, from Latin lūmināria, pl. of lūmināre, lamp; see luminary.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

luminaria

(ˌluːmɪˈnɛərɪə)
n
a small paper lantern, usually with sand and a candle inside
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

lu•mi•nar•i•a

(ˌlu məˈnɛər i ə)

n., pl. -nar•i•as.
a Mexican Christmas lantern consisting of a lighted candle set in sand inside a paper bag.
[1945–50; < Mexican Spanish, Sp: any lamp or lantern displayed during a festival < Medieval Latin, Late Latin lūmināria, orig. neuter pl. of lūmināris lamp]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Mentioned in ?
References in periodicals archive ?
Albuquerque, NM, November 14, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Routes Rentals & Tours (www.routesrentals.com), a bicycle rental and tour company located near historic Old Town Albuquerque, has announced their second annual "Lights and Luminarias" tour on December 24 (Christmas Eve).
The ''Luminarias'' is a tradition that dates back 500 years (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
These simple Halloween decorations put a spooky spin on the Hispanic tradition of lining walkways on made of brown bagscontaining lit Christmas Eve with paper lanterns made of brown bags containing lit candles set sand (luminarias).