AUBURN — “Create your own Halloween Luminaries” will take place at noon Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Auburn Public Library, 49 Spring St.

Soon the ghosts and witches will be coming to front doors begging for candy. Participants will make Halloween sidewalk lights to help safely guide the local trick or treaters.

Although many people associate “luminaries” with the holiday lighting of candles placed in small, brown, sand-filled bags, luminaries first appear historically around the 16th century, as a Spanish tradition of lighting bonfires along the roads and churchyards to guide people to Midnight Mass on the final night of the celebration of Las Posadas.

The night of Las Posadas (Spanish word meaning lodging or inn) is a traditional, festive celebration that first introduced to the native people of Mexico by European missionaries, and is the reenactment of the story of Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging in Bethlehem. The tradition continues into modern times. The decoration of rooftops, walls, sidewalks and driveways of individual homes with luminaries is used as a way of guiding travelers to their destination.

All materials for the project will be provided by the library at no cost. For more information, contact Martin Gagnon at 333-6640, ext. 4.