RAVENSWOOD — People all over the world have memories of driving around with their families and looking at Christmas lights during the holiday season.

The Ravenswood community is wanting to keep that tradition alive by selling luminaries for people to display in their yards in memory of their lost loved ones.

On Christmas Eve, the whole community will be lit up with the luminaries that will not only get people in the Christmas spirit, they will support a good cause.

Dee Scritchfield, Ravenswood City Council member, remembers driving around and seeing luminaries around the community in the 1970s.

“I can remember I was really little and driving through town. Everybody did it in their yard,” she said.

The tradition went away over the years but she and her family decided to bring it back three years ago in honor of her late father Charles Shaver.

The proceeds from the luminary kit sales will go towards a scholarship in Shaver’s name to a Ravenswood or Ripley senior who plans to major in education in honor of Shaver who was a prominent member of the education community.

“We just loved the tradition in Ravenswood. We partnered with the board of parks and recreation and decided to bring it back,” Scritchfield said. “Last year we had 3,000 luminaries out. We hope to get more than that. Every year it has gained.”

The luminaries are lit at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve. and the candles burn all night long.

“(The year) 2020 has been such a difficult year and what better way to shed some light on all this darkness. It’s a way families can get out and drive around,” she said. “It’s really special. We have done it as a family individually for years just on our own as a way to honor loved ones who have passed.”

Neighborhoods are asked to get together to display these lights; an award will be given to the street that has the most luminaries.

“People take pride in their neighborhood. It truly is a beautiful sight,” she said.

Luminary kits are available for purchase $15 for 10 bags until Nov. 30. Each bag includes sand and a votive candle. Order forms can be picked up at Ravenswood City Hall and the kits can be picked up at the Calvary Baptist Church Shelter from 2-4 p.m. Dec. 12.

Kits are also available for delivery. For more information, contact Kim Love at (304) 532-5590, Dee Scritchfield at (304) 531-1507 or Stan Shaver at (304) 373-9587.

Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com.