New Mexico Hotels

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New Mexico Local Customs

House near Canyon Road, Santa Fe

by goodfish

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House near Canyon Road, Santa Fe
by goodfish
Art Gallery, Canyon Road, Santa Fe
by goodfish
Santa Fe is an upper crust kinda place
by HispanicYob
An example of a "Christmas" combo plate
by HispanicYob
Street in Acoma Pueblo
by toonsarah

Most Viewed Local Customs in New Mexico

Land & People Albuquerque

10 Reviews Manuel’s Food Market opened in 1924 and is located at the present-day intersection of Edith Boulevard and Roma Avenue. Manuel lived to be 98 and his daughter, Clara, still runs the market. Adelita's...

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Public Art Albuquerque

2 Reviews Nestled behind the hospitals in the South Martineztown area there is a small, neighborhood park at the corner of Edith and Roma, next to Longfellow Elementary School. A unique cultural treasure, the...

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Local Foods Albuquerque

4 Reviews New Mexican food is different from other ethnic food that have 'Mexican' in their name. New Mexican food is a combination of Mexican, Spanish and Native American cuisine. Tortillas, pinto beans...

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Native Cultures Albuquerque

1 Review One can't travel through the Southwest without spotting Ristras strewn along a roofline or colorfully accenting a country kitchen. Ristras are a string of dried red chile, which tradition says bring...

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Would you like red, green or....Christmas??

by HispanicYob

Here in New Mexico, we are famous for that delicious vegetable that is the chile! You can of course, find different spice and chiles all over the world but New Mexico is famous for producing some of the best in the country, and probably the only place in the country you'd want to bother with! We have a saying here when you're at a restaurant and you can't decide which flavor of chile you want, or maybe you want both? Then the waiter/waitress will ask you if you would like "Christmas"? The traditional colors of Christmas are red and green, and so goes with our chile! Both will offer your taste buds a kicking palette of flaming hot and savory, depending on the restaurant. Try it if you're in New Mexico!

Descansos

by AlbuqRay

The custom of marking the site of a death on the highway has deep roots in the Hispanic culture of the Southwest, where these memorials are often referred to as Descansos, "resting places". Traditionally, Descansos were memorials erected at the places where the funeral procession paused to rest on the journey between the church and the cemetery. The association thus created among the road, the interrupted journey, and death as a destination, eventually found expression in the practice of similarly marking the location of fatal accidents on the highway. Descansos are sad in some respects but also moving in their love for the departed. One only needs to look at these pictures to see examples of how true this is. Everyone should honor and respect these sites. The main picture is doubly sad; it marks the resting places of two children. See KymbaNM's site for much more information.

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Chillies are part of the New Mexico psyche

by richiecdisc

Chillies are part of the New Mexico psyche. They love to eat them and love to use them as decoration. The site of hanging “ristas” is a memory of New Mexico that you will never forget. These hanging strings of dried chillies look just perfect hanging on an adobe building against the pinkish red clay exterior. This light hue of red, with the darker red of the chillies is offset by the ever present blue sky that also is a hallmark of New Mexico. You'll not have to worry much about the weather on your vacation if you pick New Mexico as your destination!

Options for Anthropology in New Mexico

by AlbuqRay

New Mexico is tricultural with Native American, Chicano (the historical meaning) and Anglo cultures blended together. Depending on how many days you have and how much hiking are you willing to do, you have many many options ranging from the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology on the University of New Mexico campus, to state monuments and national parks/monuments, to relatively remote, undeveloped sites like in the Ojito Wilderness where there are sacred Native American sites found near dinosaur remains, or to 12-mile round trip hikes to sites near a moonstone mine in the Gila Wilderness. New Mexico is a large state so you may have to focus on a particular area, culture, or time period. There are also sites in Arizona like Canyon de Chelly that you may not want to miss.Here is a partial list of more sites for NM (*means see a separate tip or travelogue): Taos Pueblo*, Acoma Pueblo's Sky City*,...

Leave a cross after making a request ....

by kymbanm

One of the most amazing things at the Santuario de Chimayo is the shear number of homemade crosses that adorn the fencing along the stream. The tradition here is to leave a cross behind to mark your intention. Some crosses were made before arrival and are a bit more ornate. Most of the crosses were made with twigs found on property and bound together with duct tape, string, and even dental flossWalking the fence and viewing these crosses, even for a non-religious soul as myself, stirs one deep inside. Tears well up, thoughts arrive unbidden, and the desire to join in arrives. For some reason the spirituality of this place fills me ... unexpected and joyously.As I got to the end of the fencing and turned, I discovered I had passed an outdoor church! Mounds indicated the stations of the cross, benches all angled toward and outdoor altar. This altar has a crucifix adorned with little lights...

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Religious Folkart

by kymbanm

The Spanish exploration of the New Worlds included a promise to the Catholic Church to provide more souls for the church itself. Therefore, Catholocism was an important part of conquistador life. With a lack of European influence in their art, local converts began creating likenesses of the saints, Virgin May, and Christ they were taught about. These pieces can be found in churches and homes throughout world regions of Spanish influence.Here in New Mexico, religious artworks are created through a spiritual journey of the artist. Training occurs through mentorship after being selected by an established artist. Some artists recommend prayer, others insist on fasting. Regardless of the method used, each of these religious works has a story. Many in the region who provide these items believe they are instructed in the formation of the artwork from the saint themself... sort of a channelling...

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Mysterious But Devout Penitente

by AlbuqRay

There are many ways that people have chosen to worship God. Los Hermanos Penitentes in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado are very different from mainstream and have had to become secretive. One can still see things from their way of life. The pictures are from Truchas, NM, on NM-76.

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Door to where?

by TropicGirl77

For some reason, as we were driving around in awe of the southwestern flavour throughout the whole area, I was drawn to this old door propped outside someone's storefront. This is not uncommon a sight here, and certainly catchy for those who appreciate old rustic items of yesteryear.

Adobe style homesteads

by TropicGirl77

I love how the adobe style homes cover the landscaping in the southwest. While New Mexico is modern in it's architecture, there is still the simplicity and sensibility to have many homes and businesses still of the old adobe composition and structure.

Crosses along the road ....

by kymbanm

Since I moved to New Mexico over 15 years ago, I noticed an odd (to me) tradition. Crosses, plastic flowers, and other memorabilia along various stretches of the roadside seemd a constant companion as I traveled from point A to point B. I came to understand that these memorials were in honor of those who died on these roadways. I found these shrines on city streets, country roads, and larger interstates. At locations where I knew the story of the lives lost, I would take the time to say a silent prayer ..... These little bits of local tradition became roadtrip companions as well as a personal reminder for me to be cautious while behind the wheel. Descanso means place of rest, and that is what we call these shrines to loved ones lost.(Photo from the below website until I can take to time to stop and take some pics of my own)

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