Guest Post - Santa Fe’s Season of Joy – Come Celebrate the Holidays in Santa Fe, New Mexico

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I am guest posting at Family Vacations US today.  My post this month is on Santa Fe, New Mexico and its unique Christmas celebration traditions.  With a blend of traditions from Spanish, Native American, and Old West heritage, the city has a holiday look and feel unlike anywhere in the U.S.

For centuries Santa Fe has been strongly Catholic and many of the traditional events reflect that such as Las Posadas held on Christmas Eve or La Nochebuena.  This version of an old Hispanic tradition recreates Mary and Joseph’s search for a place to give birth to the Baby Jesus.  The annual candle-lit procession of Las Posadas travels around the Santa Fe Plaza and concludes in the Palace Courtyard.  and throws in a few devils for good measure.

A crowd joins Joseph and Mary as they search for an inn on the Santa Fe Plaza. Photo by Hannah Abelbeck. Courtesy of the Museum Of New Mexico

A crowd joins Joseph and Mary as they search for an inn on the Santa Fe Plaza. Photo by Hannah Abelbeck. Courtesy of the Museum Of New Mexico

A crowd joins Joseph and Mary as they search for an inn on the Santa Fe Plaza. Photo by Hannah Abelbeck. Courtesy of the Museum Of New Mexico

A crowd joins Joseph and Mary as they search for an inn on the Santa Fe Plaza.  Photo by Hannah Abelbeck.  Courtesy of the Museum Of New Mexico

Seeming to breath fire, a rooftop devil taunts the crowd during Las Posadas. Photo by Hannah Abelbeck. Courtesy of the Museum of New Mexico

Seeming to breath fire, a rooftop devil taunts the crowd during Las Posadas. Photo by Hannah Abelbeck.  Courtesy of the Museum of New Mexico

The holy couple stops at an "inn" and all of a sudden the devil pops out of the darkness in a flash of light. He gestures menacingly at the couple and their followers while screaming at them in 16th century Spanish. The crowd boos. This is done three more times (once at each side of the Plaza).  This is only one of the wonderful events taking place in Santa Fe!  There are so many more.  There are so many more.  Read my post on Family Vacations US to learn about all the unique and wonderful things you can experience in Santa Fe.