Luminarias Light Up the Christmas Eve Sky

If you were headed home from Christmas Eve church services or otherwise out and about in the Doylestown area Saturday night, you might have spied some wonderful displays of luminarias, those neatly arranged rows of lit candles placed in bags lining neighborhood streets or walkways.

For Christians, tradition has it that it’s meant to the light the way for the Christ child to one’s home.

For the last eight years, the neighborhood of Pebble Ridge Farms near Almshouse and Turk roads have participated in the seasonal light show.

 Connie Fohner and Cathy Greco are the prime movers behind the yearly custom.

The neighbors met when they both were Realtors at Coldwell Banker Hearthside.

“We both just really love Christmas and decorating, and we just wanted to have something that the whole neighborhood could participate in,” recalls Fohner.

“The neighborhood is just too big to have over for a party and everyone’s busy this time of year – we just thought this would be a fun thing to do.”

Fohner buys the white bags – she estimates at least 2,000 of them for the 90-plus homes – and then both women distribute them, along with instructions for setting them up, earlier in December. The homeowners are responsible for providing the candles and stabilizer (sand, kitty litter or pebbles).

“The feedback has been wonderful,” admits Greco. “So as much as we love it, the majority loves it as well.”

Fohner says the luminaria tradition acts as kind of a social network that allows the residents to touch base with each other in an otherwise crazy-busy month.

Neighbors chat with each other or meet new neighbors as they set up the display. And many take walks after they’re lit to see the finished product.  

“It really feels good to do it,” says Fohner, and judging by the number of flickering luminarias lining the streets of their community on Christmas Eve, her neighbors agree.

“We can’t buy everybody a gift or send a card, but it’s just a way we can all wish each other a happy holiday.”