Luminaries:
A New Town Tradition By Emma Verrigni
Two Hillsdale women — Heather Tritchka and Jean Heise — hope to ignite a centuries-old tradition by encouraging community members to place luminaries throughout the streets of Hillsdale.
Christ as “the light of the world.” In the United States, luminaries would light the path to midnight Mass during Christmas Eve night. In Spanish tradition, luminaries would be set out to represent a well-lit path for Joseph and the Virgin Mary.
On the first day of Advent, December 3, 2023, participating homeowners, businesses and community members will leave luminaries out from 5 to 8 p.m.
“There’s always been a spiritual symbolism. Now, luminaries are done all over the country for many different reasons,” Heise said. “It’s a magical, meaningful night, whether you are a Christian or not. It is very beautiful and very inexpensive.”
Heise and Tritchka aspire to see luminaries throughout the middle of downtown Hillsdale, at local businesses, near the college, and around homes. Tritchka said she would like luminaries to become a yearly tradition in Hillsdale.
When Heise told Tritchka about her idea to bring Luminaries to Hillsdale, Tritchka began to help Heise plan and organize the idea. The two prepared for Hillsdale’s first year participating in the tradition.
“We’d love to have a walk where people can look for a couple of hours and have a continuous block of lights to watch,” Tritchka said.
It’s easy to participate in the luminary tradition, and only a few inexpensive materials are needed. To set up luminaries, one needs tea light candles, paper bags, and any sort of weight inside the bag to keep it from blowing away — that could be sand, dirt, or even clay kitty litter. Then, the bags should be set outside alongside paths and roads, with the lit tea candle inside.
Heise had the idea after reflecting on the different communities she has lived in throughout her life. One thing that stood out to her were the communities that put out luminaires every year during the Christmas season. “People would often go for walks, or drive around town to look at luminaries,” Heise explained. “We’d like to start that tradition here in Hillsdale as an annual event to start the Christmas season.” Heise came to love luminaries when she lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her husband. She always enjoyed driving through the streets to look at the luminaries. She recalled seeing all of the beautiful luminaries that lit up the town and the houses as they drove by. Fascinated by luminaries, Heise immersed herself in the history of the tradition. The tradition spans back to a sixteenth century legend that states Martin Luther, the German reformer, put candles on his Christmas tree. Originally, luminaries represented Jesus 22 | SimplyHers.net
To promote the project, Heise and Tritchka also plan to distribute posters and handouts throughout the community, encouraging families and businesses to leave luminaries out on Advent night. Heise hopes the tradition of luminaries will continue to grow throughout Hillsdale in future years, as more homeowners and businesses begin to participate in the tradition. Heise and Tritchka are also incredibly grateful for the donors that have supported their efforts, as well as for Woman’s Life Insurance Chapter 741 and the Hillsdale County Community Foundation. “We are very grateful to our donors who are making this possible,” Heise said.
