All through December we'll be showcasing the best of the holiday season in cities around the world. Today it's Christmastime in Santa Fe
and we've asked local experts for the essential ways to enjoy the
season's best. Visitors and locals alike come together to celebrate the
holidays and the New Year, and we encourage you to share your own
favorites with us in the comments below. You can find all of the cities
we've already visited and stay up to date on the rest by bookmarking the series here.Steve Lewis, 19-year Santa Fean
Santa Fe Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Among the local foods connected to the holidays in Northern New Mexico are posole, a traditional holiday dish. Posole is like hominy corn made into a stew with chilies, pork, or other additions. You can learn how to make it at the Santa Fe School of Cooking's holiday class or try some of the best in town at La Choza or the Shed.
- Biscochitos--New Mexico's state cookie are anise flavored and
typically only come out for the holidays. Look for them on the counters of
local shops and especially at the Plaza Bakery.
- Tamales are another food that's customarily made during the
holidays. Not that savory tamales aren't available throughout the year, but during the
holidays there are special sweet tamales made with cocoa, raisins, cinnamon, and sugar. If one isn't lucky
enough to have a friend or family member make these special treats, try them (or order them online) at
Posa's, home of El Merendero tamales.
- The Santa Fe Desert Chorale puts together a number of holiday-specific performances that are both moving and beautiful; they feature the chorale's beautiful a cappella choir and a candlelight procession to Silent Night. New for 2008 is the Jewish Music Concert at Temple Beth Shalom featuring music composed especially for the Festival of lLghts plus Israeli folk songs.
- The Santa Fe Pro Musica Baroque Ensemble "Baroque Christmas"
is a prized ticket at
the intimate Loretto Chapel.
- On Christmas Eve Santa Fe's historic downtown Plaza is ringed by 1,000 farolitos (votive candles in sand-filled paper bags) the traditional New Mexican holiday lights. Hot cider and biscochitos cookies are served as the farolitos are lit, then a procession to the Cross of the Martyrs takes place.
- Susan's Christmas Shop will feature the finely detailed and
highly imaginative felt ornaments of Taos artist Leah Benau along with other locally-crafted holiday decor.
- Many of the galleries along and around Canyon Road--the heart of Santa Fe's gallery district--hold Christmas Eve celebrations featuring food, carolers, and more. One such gallery is the Randall M. Hasson Gallery at 225 Delgado Street. Simply wandering up Canyon Road at dark is a sure way to find a lively party and festive crowds.
- The Noche Buena--or Good Night--Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, based on a traditional Spanish ceremony celebrating the animals in the manger in Bethlehem, is Santa Fe's cultural version of Midnight Mass.
Judith Moir, Public Relations Manager
The Inn on the Alameda, Santa Fe
- Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at Tesuque Pueblo includes a dance; one needs to be there by 10:00 p.m. as the small church becomes very crowded.
- Ohkay Owingeh (Formerly San Juan Pueblo, located north of Santa Fe), has a sundown torchlight walk on Christmas Eve with a matachines dance.
- On Christmas Day, there are usually dances at Tesuque, Santa Clara, San Ildefonso, Taos, and Ohkay Owingeh pueblos. Many Pueblos also have a New Year's Day dance, as well as dances on King's Day, January 6.
Photo: hartnm1 via the Intelligent Travel Flickr pool
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