Families gathered early Christmas Eve to make farolitos on Barranca Mesa. Made from sand-filled paper bags with a candle inside, farolitos create a warm glow for holiday celebrations and processions. These simple, handmade lanterns traditionally line pathways, windows, and churches, symbolizing the shepherds’ fires guiding the way for the Christ child. Photo by Evan Reitzell

Scene from families gathered early Christmas Eve to make farolitos on Barranca Mesa. Photo by Evan Reitzell

Gathering sand early Christmas Eve to make farolitos on Barranca Mesa. Photo by Evan Reitzell

Scene from farolito making Wednesday on Barranca Mesa. Photo by Evan Reitzell

Farolitos ready to be loaded onto a truck for placement along streets on Barranca Mesa. Photo by Evan Reitzell

Truck loading gets underway on Barranca Mesa.Photo by Evan Reitzell

Scene from the farolito making project Wednesday on Barranca Mesa. Photo by Evan Reitzell

The truck is loaded and the kids are onboard and ready to place all the farolitos ahead of nightfall on Christmas Eve. Photo by Evan Reitzell

Job well done by one and all! Photo by Evan Reitzell