Oh, and looks like we might have Christmas cards out early this year as well. We have come close to not sending out cards in recent years but I finally realized that in this fragmented world it is one of the few ways to keep a little contact with friends and relatives. I just wish it was easier to find decent cards with the true message of Christ’s Birthday on them, that being that He is the Son of God. I hate all this “holiday stuff”. It isn’t a “holiday”. It’s the remembrance of the coming into the world of the Messiah. And He will return when the appointed time arrives.

The dance is not done by Native Americans but by Spanish-Americans and is done to keep a very old tradition alive that dates back to the late 1700′s. The dancers are not acting or pretending to be Indians but are carrying on a tradition that remembers the relationship between the Spanish settlers of the northern part of the state and the nomadic Comanche Indians.

I could go on here but there are several web sites that can supply concise information about the Comanche Dances and here they are:

• An article in the New Mexico Magazine that covers the Comanche Dances and other northern New Mexico traditional dances,
• A newsletter published by the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives,
• Paula Valentine’s Photography site which has wonderful photos of the event in Taos,
• A photo of 2 young Los Comanche Dancers in Alcalde, New Mexico.

I hope this will start anyone on the road to needed information and please let me know if any links are not working. They are all good as of today but tomorrow??……this is the internet you know!

December 1-31

Aztec – Fantasy of Lights Show at Riverside Park.

December 5

Albuquerque – Holiday Stroll in Old Town.

Lordsburg – Light Parade on Motel Drive.

Socorro – Annual Luminarias on the Plaza.

December 5 & 6

Gallup – Red Rock Ballon Rally at Red Rock Park.

December 6

Belen – La Gran Pastorela (a Spanish Folk Play).

Deming – Christmas Light Parade downtown.

Hillsboro – Christmas in the Foothills.

December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21

Madrid – Christmas in Madrid Open House.

December 10 & 11

Las Cruces – Our Lady of Guadalupe Fiesta in Tortugas.

December 12

Santa Fe – Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

Bernalillo – Christmas at Kuaua at Coronado State Monument.

Albuquerque – Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

Jemez Pueblo – Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day and Matachines Dance.

Pojoaque Pueblo – Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day and traditional Dance.

December 13

Jemez Springs – Farolito Tour at Jemez State Park.

Las Cruces – Luminaria Tour at Ft. Selden State Monument.

Rio Rancho – Jingle Bell Balloon Rally at the Events Center.

Socorro – Christmas at El Camino Real Heritage Center.

Truth Or Consequences – Beachwalk Luminarias at Elephant Butte State Park.

December 13 & 14

Albuquerque – A Pueblo Christmas at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. (Lots of good stuff here!)

December 14

Santa Fe – Las Posadas (a traditional Spanish Christmas Play) at the Palace of the Governors.

December 16

Las Cruces – Las Posadas at St. Genevieve Church.

December 18

Silver City – Frontier Christmas at the Silver City Museum.

December 23

Farmington – Navajo Nativity at the Four Corners Home For Children.

December 24

Albuquerque – Luminaria Tour. Bus tour Starts in Old Town. (This is well worth while!)

Angel Fire – Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade and Fireworks at Angel Fire Resort.

Mesilla – Christmas Carols and Luminarias on the Plaza.

Santa Fe – Farolitos on the Plaza.

December 25

Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan Pueblo) – Deer or Matachines Dance.

Picuris Pueblo – Matachines Dance.

Taos Pueblo – Deer or Matachines Dance.

December 25 – 27

Laguna Pueblo – Dances following Mass.

December 25 – 28

Zia Pueblo – Dances.

December 27

Alcalde – Los Comanches re-enactment and celebration.

Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan) – dances

Picuris – Christmas Eve dances

San Felipe – dances after midnight Mass

Sandia – dances after midnight Mass

Santo Domingo – dances after midnight Mass

Tesuque – dances

Zia – dances after midnight Mass

December 24- 28

Acoma – Christmas Celebration, Mass and dances

December 25

Cochiti – dances after midnight Mass

Picuris – Matachines dance

San Ildefonso – various dances

Santa Ana – dances

Santa Clara – dances

Taos – dances

Okay Owingay – Turtle Dance

December 26-28

Santo Domingo – Corn Dance

December 28

Santa Clara – children’s dances

There may be others that I am not aware of but that is a pretty good run down of the activities in the various Pueblos in New Mexico. Zuni has Shalako Dances but I am unaware of the date.

Remember some common courtesy things when in any Pueblo. Don’t take pictures, don’t drink and don’t bring alcohol or drugs with you. If invited to eat at someone’s house be polite, eat and get up from the table so others can eat. Don’t offer to pay for the meal. Don’t bother any of the possessions in the house. Thank you always works. Dress warmly as it can be quite cold. Here is a better list of do’s and dont’s.

Have fun!

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