Guest blog by: Johanna Medina
There are so many wonderful holiday traditions that are specific to New Mexico, and especially Santa Fe.
We take time to unfold so many paper bags to make our own luminarias (or farolitos), we bake up the perfect batch of biscochitos, we thaw out the hominy for posole, and we bundle up for a blistering walk down Canyon Road. All of these traditions are done with love and the spirit of Christmas in our hearts, but one of my most favorite Santa Fe traditions is taking in the beautiful lights on the plaza.
Traditionally we would all head down to the plaza after lunch on Thanksgiving Day as a big group and watch as the lights first turn on. This year was a little different. As with most things, our plans had to be adjusted or postponed due to COVID.
So, this year we waited until the weekend before Christmas to set out for the plaza and we went just the two of us (in our masks of course). It was still as beautiful and magical as ever, although we both had to admit that something felt a bit “off.”
Things are different this year, in so many ways. We aren’t able to celebrate the holidays with big family gatherings. We weren’t able to hug and greet our neighbors without caution like we might have in years past, and we couldn’t grab a drink by the fire at Del Charro.
Even though things are different this year, there is no denying that an evening spent on the plaza will always brighten your mood and truly get you in the holiday spirit. I know we’re all hoping to get back to our normal holiday traditions next year, but for now, I’m happy to sit on a cold park bench and just look at the lights.
