It\u2019s officially luminaria season and if you grew up in El Paso, you know that luminarias aren\u2019t just decorations- they\u2019re a feeling.<\/p>\n
Every holiday season we see Scenic Drive glowing against the Franklin Mountains with paper bags flickering in the cold December air, and that quiet moment where everyone slows down just enough to soak it in. It\u2019s one of those traditions that feels uniquely ours, even though it stretches across the Southwest.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: How to Dodge Your Ex at Wintefest<\/a><\/p>\n That\u2019s why something happening in Albuquerque this weekend might seriously catch the attention of all El Pasoans; especially those already looking for a festive winter getaway.<\/p>\n Albuquerque Is Lighting the World\u2019s Largest Luminaria<\/p>\n This Sunday, Dec. 14, Albuquerque is debuting what\u2019s being called the world\u2019s largest \u201cLuminito\u201d, and it is exactly as dramatic as it sounds!<\/p>\n The massive structure stands 20 feet tall and will officially light up at 5:30 p.m. at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. According to organizers, it\u2019s the largest lantern of its kind anywhere, making it a pretty historic moment for a tradition many of us grew up with.<\/p>\n The name \u201cLuminito\u201d sounds a bit weird but it\u2019s actually a nod to New Mexico\u2019s deep cultural roots. It blends two Spanish words <\/a>used for paper lanterns across the state: \u201cfarolito\u201d in northern New Mexico and \u201cluminaria\u201d in the south, honoring how the same tradition lives under different names depending on where you\u2019re from.<\/p>\n For El Pasoans, that explanation probably feels very familiar.<\/p>\n El Paso Luminarias<\/p>\n Luminarias have always been a shared Southwest tradition, but El Paso puts its own spin on it. Scenic Drive alone draws thousands every year, becoming a must-see holiday stop for locals and out-of-town visitors alike.<\/p>\n That\u2019s what makes Albuquerque\u2019s giant Luminito feel less like competition and more like a cultural cousin showing off something new. Same roots, same glow- just scaled way up.<\/p>\n