Santa Fe Local Custom Tips by VeronicaG

Ristras

When traveling through the Southwest, you'll see strings of dried red peppers hanging from storefronts or from porches of private homes. These are "ristras". This tradition is said to be meant as a welcome to visitors or to bring good luck for the year.

The ristras come in all sizes and some can be quite long. In January, we found them in circular shapes, which ressemble wreaths. We were told that these can also be brought into one's kitchen to add a little color and cheer to the house.

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Local Customs: The Pinyon Tree

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Updated by VeronicaG

on Feb 1, 2007

A Pinyon Tree

This pinyon tree was pointed out to me as we walked along the streets of Santa Fe. We had noticed the wonderfully aromatic fragrance of the pinyon wood when the fireplace in our room was lit.

After searching the internet for information on this tree, I found out some interesting facts. New Mexican Pinyon trees are widespread, usually growing below the elevation of 7500 feet. They do not often grow beyond 20-30 feet and can be wider than they are tall. These trees commonly live 350-450 years, not producing cones until after 100 years old.

The pinyon tree which grows in New Mexico, provides edible pine nuts to much of the American Southwest. It was a major food source of the Native American indians who lived in this area. Since this nut nourished animals, too, numbers of nuts buried for later use often germinate. In this way, the pinyon pine relies on these creatures to help the species spread.

Early Europeans credit the pinyon nut for preventing their starvation. The Pinyon Jay and the tree seem to benefit each other--one provides the nuts and the other's beak has evolved to expertly pluck the nuts from the cone. However, some seeds fall to the ground and eventually are covered over, enabling them to grow.

This bit of info. came from an article by Stuart K. Wier on earthlink.net

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Local Customs: Sopaipillas-These Are Delicious!

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Written by VeronicaG

on Jan 30, 2007

Sopaipillas

I had to travel to New Mexico to sample my first sopaipilla! Actually, I understand that I could have found these in Texas, but I've never seen them.

Sopaipillas are flaky puffs of fried dough that can be used to sop juices off your plate or as a dessert drizzled with honey or cinnamon and sugar.

That first bite was telling...I knew I would have to seek these little treasures out wherever they would be. My sopaipilla was with honey, but anyway they come I'm willing and anxious to try them again.

When you're traveling to the southwest, search for these tasty treats!

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Local Customs: A Rite of Autumn

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Written by VeronicaG

on Jan 30, 2007

The Burning of Zozobra

The Burning of Zozobra is not some rite that's been practiced for centuries, it's a fairly modern creation by a very imaginative artist named Will Shuster.

Will was one of the 'Cinco de Pintores' who settled along Canyon Road in the l920's. He got the idea to celebrate Autumn and the end of the tourist season. The bonfire has evolved into quite a spectacle and coincides with opera season and Fiesta de Santa Fe.

This painting represents the burning of Zozobra, which has become an important part of the Fall social scene here in Santa Fe.

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Local Customs: Nectar From The Prickly Pear

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Written by VeronicaG

on Jan 30, 2007

Delightful Prickly Pear Lemonade

Never having had the pleasure of tasting Prickly Pear Lemonade before, I had no idea it was so good! We experienced this taste sensation at Rancho de Chimayo.

Our delicious drink was made from the Prickly Pear cactus, which comes from the genus 'Opuntia'. The dictionary describes it as having "flattened, usually spiny stem joints, yellow, orange or reddish flowers with ovoid, often edible fruit."

I would highly recommend trying this unique lemonade--you might also want to taste some prickly pear jelly if you happen upon it on your travels through the southwest.

Rancho de Chimayo served up our drink with a slice of orange with a pretty paper flower stirrer.

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Local Customs: It's a Bubbly Beer!

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Written by VeronicaG

on Jan 30, 2007

Sol Beer

We were traveling with friends, one of whom ordered a bottle of Sol Beer when we stopped for lunch at the Eating House restaurant in Pajoaque.

SOL BEER is an import from Mexico and is light and bubbly, like champagne. The first barrel, produced by the Cuauhtemoc Brewing Company in the late 1890's, won first prize at the Chicago and Paris World Fairs.

The Moctezuma Brewing Company of Monterrey acquired the original company in 1985 and now has breweries in Tecate, Navojoa, Guadalajara, Toluca and Orizaba, Mexico. I've read that SOL is also available in Texas.

Both the brewery and beer garden can be toured--visitors receive a free glass of draft beer.

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Local Customs: Clearing The Roads

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Written by VeronicaG

on Jan 30, 2007

The Road Crew