ENFIELD
The community lit their homes with luminaries on Saturday as a way to bring people together during the pandemic.
The activity, Candles at Twilight Christmas Tour, was coordinated by the Enfield Economic Development and Revitalization Commission, when residents set luminaries around their walkways and driveways.
Gerry Middleton, EEDRC executive director, said the nonprofit group does various projects with one set this year to receive funding for the historic preservation district. However, Middleton said fundraising activities were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
âI think what was missing with that was seeing people interacting and joining in with celebrating and supporting things,â she said. âAfter the pandemic came, we decided that we wanted to come up with an idea where we were helping the community get back together.â
This year, two planets, Jupiter and Saturn, will appear closer in the night sky than they have in 800 years. But this double-planet, star-like formation isnât the only thing lighting up the sky during a lockdown.
On Saturday, the Enfield Economic Development and Revitalization Commission will sponsor a Candles at Twilight Christmas Tour. EEDRC reached out to Enfield citizens and requested they light up their paths and driveways. About 2,000 candles will be lit by those who will participate throughout the town.
The luminaria tradition actually goes back to early 17th century Spain, when the townspeople burned cedar boughs along paths â symbolically lighting the way to Bethlehem for Mary and Joseph.