THE LONGEST-RUNNING FESTIVAL in the United States takes over the Santa Fe Plaza September 2–10. In New Mexico Fiestas: A History of Music, Dance & Fandango (The History Press), historian Ray John de Aragón details the historical reasons and sacred rituals behind New Mexico’s fiestas, or annual celebrations of Hispanic culture, held in cities all over the state. From Santa Fe’s graceful procession of La Conquistadora—a Madonna statue brought to the region in 1625—to the fandango and Matachines dance traditions that mark many celebrations, it’s clear that New Mexico knows how to party—and commemorate.
What We're Reading: New Mexico Fiestas
Historian John de Aragón explains the historical reasons and sacred rituals behind New Mexico’s fiestas in "New Mexico Fiestas: A History of Music, Dance & Fandango."