Christmas Eve on Santa Fe’s Canyon Road

The cold was frightful.  Snow and ice covered much of the ground.  But those who braved Nature’s buffets for the annual Christmas Eve walk on Canyon Road in Santa Fe reaped the rewards of a sweet, community ritual that defines the winter holiday for many in the City Different. Tradition reports that luminarias, the little bonfires that dot the walking paths, were originally set out to guide people to Mass; farolitos, the small bags of sand and votive candles, lined the way for Christ’s arrival. Today, these symbols define a spectacle of light and fire that draws thousands of locals and tourists alike to the Santa Fe’s historic eastside. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdVRZ2MGjlM

Some galleries offer cider, hot chocolate and biscochitos.  In recent years, stands have sprung up selling hot drinks. Or for the price of a song, sidle up to the carolers clustered around a luminaria.  No matter the cold, I’ve never found a group to exclude a frosty newcomer.

If you missed this year’s ritual, mark your calendars for 2010.  The farolito walk is one of the many reasons why Santa Fe made Away.com’s Top Ten Destinations for Christmas Vacation