The historic business district in Bath was aglow Dec. 17.

The borough’s Community and Economic Development Committee joined Bath Borough’s small businesses to assemble and place luminaries by their businesses, homes and churches.

The luminaries consisted of a white bag with some sand or other weighted material as a base and a small lighted candle.

There was little fanfare with the effort. Simply, the word was spread inviting the community to place luminaries outside their business, homes or churches.

Community activists Darrin Heckman and Carol Bear-Heckman, a former Bath council member, were out on the cold evening placing luminaries around the district.     

Bear-Heckman, with her intense interest in Bath history and business development, expressed the importance of this endeavor. She noted it will emphasize the business area and make the Bath community beautiful.

According to Councilman Frank Hesch, chair of Bath’s CEDC, the goal was to highlight the business district to stimulate commerce and to beautify the borough’s historic business district.

Luminaries have a complex history with a number of tales of how they began. Currently, luminaries are used as a decoration during the holiday season.

In one account, luminaries were first recorded in the 16th century, when Spanish people lit bonfires along roads to guide people to midnight Mass on the final night of Las Posadas. This was done to reenact the story of Mary and Joseph’s quest for lodging in Bethlehem.

Luminaries are sometimes called farolitos, the Spanish word for little lanterns.

They are now used around the world on every occasion, not just Christmas, but to illuminate patios, walkways and to enhance the appearance of any celebration.