>>Narrator: CHRISTMAS BEGAN ON DECEMBER 25TH WHEN A STAR ROSE IN THE EAST, AND THE SAVIOR WAS BORN.

>>FROM THAT DAY PEOPLE FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD HAVE CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

>>PSALMS ARE SUNG, PRAYERS ARE SAID AND GIFTS ARE EXCHANGED ON THIS DAY-GOOD WILL TOWARDS ALL.

MUSIC >>Narrator: DEEP IN THE HEART OF AMERICA ANCIENT TRADITIONS LIVE TODAY.

THE RICH COLORS AND DIVERSE RITUALS OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON BLEND IN TOGETHER IN ONE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST, ESPECIALLY IN NEW MEXICO.

MUSIC >>Narrator: HERE CHRISTMAS IS CELEBRATED WITH GREAT DIVERSITY AND SPIRIT.

THE DRUM BEAT OF THE MATACHINES DANCE.

LA POSADAS THE REENACTMENT OF JOSEPH SEARCHING FOR A PLACE TO STAY THE NIGHT.

THE PROCESSION OF THE VIRGIN OF GUADALUPE.

THIS IS A PLACE WHERE THE TRADITION OF THE OLD AND NEW WORLD'S MELT INTO A UNIQUE MIXTURE OF CULTURE'S AND HISTORY.

>>THEY HAVE MET AT A CROSS ROAD, AND NOW SING IN A COMBINED VOICE.

THE VOICE OF MANY PEOPLE, THE VOICE OF 2,000 YEARS.

MUSIC >>Narrator: FAROLITO'S BLOW IN THE HEAT WHILE THE LUMINARIAS WARM THE CRISP DECEMBER AIR.

>>BISCOCHITOS STUFF THE POCKETS OF CHILDREN AS THEY RUN TO JOIN THE PROCESSION OF LA POSADAS.

A TRADITIONAL SONG IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH JOINS THE MUSIC FROM THE DANCES OF NATIVES, PUEBLO'S TO CREATE A HARMONY OF FAITH IN THE COMMUNITY.

>>THESE VOICES CAN BE HEARD ECHOING THROUGHOUT THE SANGE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, OR THE SNOWY DESERTS OF NEW MEXICO AS WE CELEBRATE A SOUTHWEST CHRISTMAS.

>>THE BEAUTY OF CHRISTMAS ON THE SOUTHWEST IS UNIQUE AND BREATHTAKING.

>>OFTEN TIMES WHEN DIVERSE ROADS CROSS THE UNIQUE RITUALS OF ONE CULTURE TRADITIONS BECOME ENRICHED BY THOSE OF ANOTHER TO MAKE SOMETHING RARE AND BEAUTIFUL.

>>ONE OF THE SIMPLE YET LUMINOUS TRADITIONS THAT EXIST IN THE SOUTHWEST IS THAT OF THE BONFIRE AND THE LITTLE LANTERN, OR AS WE CALL THEM THE LUMINARIAS AND THE FAROLITO.

>>THEY ARE MORE THAN DECORATIONS, THEY ARE AN INVITATION TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS.

MUSIC >>Narrator: ON CHRISTMAS LIKE IN NEW MEXICO THE COLD TWILIGHT WARMS TO THE FLICKER OF 100 LUMNARIAS.

SQUARE STACKS OF PINON WOOD MAKES BONFIRES THAT LIGHT THE PATH OF THE FAITHFUL FOR THE COMING OFTHE CHRIST CHILD.

THIS TRADITION WAS BROUGHT UP BY FRANCES-MICHIGAN MISSIONARY'S FROM SPAIN IN 1600'S.

ON CHRISTMAS EVE SPANISH COLONIST AND INDIANS CAME TO THE ADOBE MISSIONS TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.

MUSIC >>Narrator: BETWEEN THE BONFIRE'S THE SOFT GLOW OF THOUSANDS OF SIMPLE CANDLES, AND PAPER BAGS FULLOF SAND LINE STREETS, FENCES, AND ROOFTOPS.

>>THESE LITTLE LANTERNS, OR FAROLETOS BURN IN THE MEMORY OF OUR ELDERS, AND PROVIDE A SIMPLE CHARM AND BEAUTY TO CHRISTMAS EVE.

MUSIC >>Narrator: FAROLITOS CAME FROM SPANISH WHO TOOK A LIKING TO THE SIMPLE PAPER LANTERNS THEY SAW IN CHINA.

BROUGHT BACK THROUGH THE PHILIPPIANS AND INTO MEXICO.

THE FAROLITOS TRAVELED NORTH ON THE CAMINO REAL TO THE SANTA FE.

BUT, THE FRAGILE PAPER LANTERNS DID NOT LAST LONG ON THE FRONTIER.

IN THE MID 1900'S WHEN THE AMERICANS CAME OVER THE SANTA FE TRAIL THEY INTRODUCED NEW CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS, SUCH AS SANTA CLAUS.

THEY ALSO BROUGHT THE SIMPLE BROWN PAPER BAG AND WITH A LITTLE INTUITIVE THE FAROLITOS BECAME ONE OF THE SOUTHWEST'S MOST RECOGNIZED AND CHERISHED CHRISTMAS TRADITION.

>>Mondragon: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE THE SOUTHWEST UNIQUE DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON ARE SOME OF THE TRADITIONS.

UNIQUE IN THAT THEY ARE KIND OF ALL OF THE CULTURE'S THAT BLEND IN TOGETHER.

YOU TALK ABOUT SOME THOSE, INCLUDES A TRADITION OF FED.., WHICH MEANS LITTLE LANTERN AND IT DOESN'T MATTER THE CULTURE BACKGROUND BE IT HISPANIC.

AND THEN OF COURSE THE TRADITION HAS BEEN PICKED UP BY THE NEWCOMER THAT COMES IN AND SEE IT IS VERY BEAUTIFUL AND VERY UNIQUE.

TO THE POINT THAT THERE ARE NOW FED... TOURS THAT TAKE PLACE IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT SANTA FE, THROUGHOUT TUSCAN, THROUGHOUT ALBUQUERQUE.

>>THE PREPARATION INVOLVED IN MAKING AND PLACING THE FAROLITOS CAN BEGIN DAYS PRIOR TO CHRISTMAS EVE.

>>MOUNDS OF FINE SAND ARE UNLOADED AT THE PREPARATION SIGHT.

SMALL PAPER BAGS ARE BROUGHT.

A SHOVEL FULL OF SAND AND A CANDLE IS PLACED IN EACH BAG.

THEY ARE THEN SET OUT BY THE THOUSANDS TO LIGHT STREETS AND THE WALKWAYS.

MUSIC >>Narrator: THEY ARE NOT EXPENSIVE OR FANCY DECORATIONS, BUT THE SIMPLICITY OF THESE SMALLS LIGHTS HAVE A BEAUTY ALL THERE OWN, AND CAST A SPECIAL MAGIC OVERALL.

MUSIC >>Narrator: AS THE SUNSETS LUMINARIAS, FAROLITOS ... INVITE THE TRAVELERS, OR WHAT IN FACE MIGHT BENEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS TO COME INSIDE AND WARM THEMSELVES BY THE FIRE, AND SHARE SOME CIDER AND PERHAPS A HOLIDAY FEAST.

>>AFTERWARDS THE CHILDREN GATHER AROUND A COZY FIRE AND LISTEN AS CHRISTMAS STORIES ARE T OLD.

>>Ortega: I LOVE CHRISTMAS IN EVERY PROCESS.

AND I LOVE CHRISTMAS, AND NOT ONLY NEW MEXICO STYLE BUT THE OTHER PROCESS , THE OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, BECAUSE EVERYTHING, EVERYONE ELSE DO IT ON A SENSE TO IT THAT IT HAS MEANING.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR US TO BEING EVERY YEAR WITH THE CHRISTMAS SEASON WITH THE LUMINARIAS AND THE OPERATIONS MEXICO CITY 1531 TO INDIAN...IT IS BEAUTIFUL.

MUSIC >>Narrator: ACCORDING TO THE LEGEND, THE VIRGIN OF GUADALUPE APPEARED OUTSIDE OF MEXICO CITY TO DIEGO AN INDIAN WHO HAD CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY.

THE VIRGIN GLOWED RADIANTLY, AND TOLD DON DIEGO TOBUILD A CHURCH SO THAT SHE COULD HEAL THE PAIN AND SUFFERING OF THE CHILDREN.

DIEGO TOLD THE LOCALBISHOP OF THE ENCOUNTER WITH THE RADIANT WOMEN, AND TRIED TO CONVINCE HIM TO BUILD THE CHURCH.

WHEN THE SKEPTICAL BISHOP DEMANDED PROOF FROM A SIGN FROM HEAVEN.

THE LADY OF GUADALUPE INSTRUCTED DEGO TO CUT ROSES FROM THE FROZEN HILLSIDE AS PROOF OF HER IDENTITY.

THE VIRGIN GAVE HIM THE ROSES AND SAID NO ONE TAKE HEED THE LEAST OF MIND SON'S THAT I AM HOLY MARY, MOTHER TO THE TRUE GOD FOR WHOM WE LIVE, THE CREATOR OF THE WORLD, MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.

I URGENTLY DESIRE THAT A TEMPLE SHOULD BE BUILT FOR ME HERE TO BEAR WITNESS TO MY LOVE AND COMPASSION.

FOR I AM A MERCIFUL MOTHER TO THEE, AND TO ALL THE FAMILY PEOPLE IN THESE LANDS WHO LOVE MEA ND TRUST ME AND WHO NEEDTH MY HELP.

HE WRAPPED THE ROSES IN HIS CLOAK AND TOOK THEM TO THE BISHOP.

WHEN HE OPENED HIS CLOAK, THE IMAGE OF LADY GUADALUPE APPEARED ON THE CLOTH.

>>THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHWEST THE CHRISTMAS SEASON BEGINS ON DEC 12TH WITH CELEBRATION OF THE MIRACLE OF VIRGIN OF GUADALUPE.

>>SOME OF THE TRADITIONS OF EARLY NEW MEXICO INCLUDES CLOSE THINGS THAT EXTEND TIME WISE DURING THE COLONY YEARS, ALL THE WAY TO THE OPERATION OF OUR LADY GUADALUPE TO EL INDIO, JUAN DIEGO, AND DECERODE PELLAT NORTH OF MEXICO CITY ON THE 12TH OF DECEMBER.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 1500'S ALL THE WAY TOTHE 6TH OF JUNE IS THE DAY OF LOS TRES REYES MALOS THE THREE WISE MEN, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN TOOUR INDIAN AND ALL THE SONGS THAT HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

>>Anaya: I THINK PEOPLE THAT COME FROM OTHER PLACES TO NEW MEXICO TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON AND TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS ARE TAKEN NOT ONLY BY THE SEASON HOW MUCH IT'S CELEBRATED AND THE KIND OF CONTINUITY THERE IS IN TRADITIONS.

>>AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT YOU HAVE THE OTHER CULTURE'S THAT HAVE COME THROUGH NEW MEXICO EACH ONE LEAD BEGIN ITS OWN TRADITION.

ADDITIONAL ITS OWN UNIQUENESS AND YOU PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER AND I THINKYOU HAVE ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING AND COLORFUL TRADITIONS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE SEASON.

>>THE PROCESSION OF THE VIRGIN GUADALUPE IS SHARED BY ENTIRE COMMUNITIES.

PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS JOIN TOGETHER TO WELCOME THE CHRISTMAS SEASON IN A TRIBUTE TO THE MOTHER OF JESUS.

>>WHAT CHRISTMAS CARDS TO THE REST OF AMERICA, CHRISTMAS FOOD ARE TO NEW MEXICANS.

THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS FOODS ARE MEANT TO WARM THE SOUL TO THE SEASON.

THE TRADITIONAL FOODS OF THE SOUTHWESTERN CHRISTMAS DIFFER FROM, YET COMPLIMENT THE OTHER AMERICAN FOODS OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

TAMALES, ENCHILADAS, AND PINATAS, STEAMED BOWLS OF POSOLE, A HOMINY STEW, WARMS GUESTS COMING IN FROM THE COLD OF THE HIGH DESERT DECEMBER EVENINGS.

THE RECIPES FOR MANY OF THESE NEW MEXICAN DISHES HAVE THERE ROOTSIN THE NATIVE TRADITION OF THE ANASAZI.

RECIPES WITH CORN, BEANS AND SIMPLE FLATBREAD.

>>TORTILLA'S THAT HAVE BEEN HANDED DOWN THROUGH THE GENERATIONS MAKE UP THE LIVELY FEASTS THAT ARE SHARED WITH NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS AND ARE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN NEW MEXICO.

>>Torres: BIENVENADOS A MI CASA!

WELCOME TO MY HOME.

TODAY WE ARE GOING TO MAKE ONE OF THE SOUTHWEST FAVORITE TREATS, CALLED BISCOCHITO.

>>Torres: SIMPLE INGREDIENTS SUCH AS EGGS, LARD, AND SUGAR ARE COMBINED WITH FLOUR, BAKING POWDER AND CINNAMON.

ANISE IS LATER ADDED TO GIVE THEM THEIR UNIQUE TASTE.

>>Torres: LIKE MY ROLLING PIN.

THAT'S A SOUTHWEST ROLLING PIN.

WE USE BROOM HANDLES TO MAKE ROLLING PINS.

THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT.

THAT'S WHAT WE USED TO MAKE THEM OUT OF.

SEE HOW NICELY THAT ROLLS OUT.

AND YOU CAN GAUGE THE THICKNESS OF IT DEPENDING ON HOW THICK YOU LIKEYOUR COOKIES.

I LIKE MINE WAFER THIN.

SOME PEOPLE LIKE THEM FAT.

THESE COOKIES SHOULD TAKE ABOUT15 TO 18 MINUTES TO BAKE.

THEY DON'T GET BROWN ON TOP, THEY GET BROWN UNDERNEATH AND YOU CHECK THEM.

IF THEY GET BROWN ON TOP THEY BURN EASILY BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MUCH SUGAR IN THEM.

>>Torres: HERE WE GO THEY'RE READY FOR THE OVEN.

NOW, THEY'RE READY FOR THE FINAL PRODUCT.

THEY HAVE TO COOL JUST A LITTLE BIT SO THAT YOU DON'T BURN YOUR FINGERS COATING THEM WITH THE CINNAMON ANDSUGAR.

OK, WE ARE GOING TO START SUGARING THEM.

I LIKE TO PUT THREE TO FOUR IN A BOWL AT ONE TIME, THAT WAY IT GOES A LITTLE FASTER.

HERE WE GO.

YES, BE SURE TO MAKE PLENTY BECAUSE THERE SURE TO GO FAST.

>>Narrator: AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THOSE DAYS THAT THERE WENT OUT A DECREE FROM CESAR AUGUSTUS THATALL THE WORLD SHOULD BE TAXED EVERYONE INTO HIS OWN SIN.

AND JOSEPH ALSO WENT OUT FROM GALILEE OFTHE CITY OF NAZARETH INTO JUDAH UNTO THE CITY OF DAVID WHICH IS CALLED BETHLEHEM, TO BE TAXED WITH MARY, HIS ESPOUSED WIFE, BE GREAT WITH CHILD.

>>AND SO IT WAS, THAT WHILE THEY WERE THERE THE DAYS WERE ACCOMPLISHED AND SHE SHOULD BE DELIVERED.

AND SHE BROUGHT FORTH HER FIRST BORN SON AND WRAPPED HIM IN SMOTHERING CLOTHES AND LAID HIM A MANGER BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ROOM FRO THEM IN THE END.

>>ORIGINATING IN MEDIEVAL SPAIN, THE TRADITION OF LOS POSSIBLE WAS BROUGHT TO NEW MEXICO OVER 400 YEARS AGO IS PERFORMED THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST.

>>Ortega: IT'S A SIMPLE LITTLE PLAY OF MARY AND JOSEPH STRUGGLING TO FIND A PLACE TO STAY BECAUSE BETHLEHEM WAS FULL OF VISITORS.

EACH COMMUNITY HAS IT'S OWN VARIETIES AND IT'S OWN PARTS OF IT.

>>Narrator: JOSEPH AND MARY TRAVELED FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE SEEKING SHELTER.

OTHER TRAVELERS JOINED IN THE SEARCH AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY SINGS A DIFFERENT PART OF THE LAS POSILLAS HYMN AT EACH HOME.

TRADITIONALLY, LAS POSILLAS IS PLAYED OUT OVER 9 DAYS.

THESE DAYS REPRESENTING THE MONTHS THAT MARYCARRIED THE CHRIST CHILD IN HER WOMB.

>>Sanestevan: WHEN I WAS YOUNG, WE TRAVELED OVER HILLS AND DOWN HILLS AND WE WOULD SEE THIS LONG PROCESSION OF PEOPLE WITH TORCHES AND A FEW LIGHTS.

AND IT WAS SO MUCH LIKE YOU IMAGINED YOURSELF IN BETHLEHEM.

YOU REALLY FELT LIKE YOU WERE THERE.

>>SOMETIMES AS WE MARCHED IN THE PROCESSIONS FOR LOS POSILLAS WE SING, SOMETIME WE PRAY, AND SOMETIMES WERE QUITE.

AND DURING THOSE QUITE TIMES IT IS VERY SPECIAL BECAUSE WE REALLY GET A SENSE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

IT'S SOMETHING NO ONE WOULD EVER SEE ANYWHERE ELSE.

>>THERE ARE FEW PLACES IN THE WORLD, WHERE YOU WILL HEAR THE VOICES OF SUCH DIVERSE COMMUNITIES BECOME ONE, ON CHRISTMAS EVE, IN THE SOUTHWEST YOUNG AND OLD PRAY IN UNISON IN DEVOTION TO THE CHRIST CHILD.

>> Gallegos: IT BRINGS US CLOSER TO OUR CREATOR.

IT BRINGS US TOGETHER AND WE SING, WE PRAY, AND DANCE.

AND CHRISTMAS SORT OF HAS THAT BEAUTIFUL GRACE TO DO ENABLE AS TO DO THAT.

THE SAVIOR IS COMING AND WE CALL VANCE, COME LORD JESUS TO BE REBORN AGAIN IN OUR HEARTS.

>>LA NOCHA BUENA OR CHRISTMAS EVE IN THE SOUTHWEST IS MUSIC.

IN SANTA FE, CANYON ROAD IS CLOSED TO TRAFFIC AND IS FILLED WITH THE SOUNDS OF CAROLS AND THE SMELL OF THE BLAZING PINON FIRE OF THE LUMINARIAS.

>>THOUSANDS OF FAROLITOS GLOW ALONG THE ANCIENT STREETS IN CENTURIES OLD ADOBE BUILDINGS.

>>Anaya: PEOPLE STILL FOCUS ON THIS BRILLIANT DISPLAY OF LIGHT.

THE LUMINARIAS AND FAROLITOS OF CHRISTMAS.

THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

AND IT GRABS THEIR ATTENTION AND OF COURSE ON CHRISTMAS EVE WALKING THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD OR AT YOUR OWN HOME, HAVING A PARTY, INVITING FAMILY OVER THOSE, THE CANDLES FLICKERING IN THE PLAIN LITTLE BROWN BAGS CREATE A DISPLAY THAT IS YOU MIGHT SAY IS A POOR MAN'S DISPLAY OF LIGHT, BUT IT'S ONE OF THE MOST ENCHANTING DISPLAYS THERE IS.

>>Narrator: AS SPANISH EXPLORES CAME INTO THE SOUTHWEST, IN THE 16TH CENTURY, THEY BROUGHT FROM FRANCISCAN MISSIONARIES.

THE FRIARS BUILT CHURCHES IN THE PUEBLOS.

AND THE NATURE AMERICANS BEGAN TO INTEGRATE THE CHRISTIAN BELIEFS INTO THEIR OWN.

>>THE ANCIENT CULTURE OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN IN THE SOUTHWEST IS RICH IN THE BELIEF IN THE SKY AND EARTH AND REVERENCE FOR ALL LIVING CREATURES.

MANY OF THESE BELIEF WERE WOVEN INTO THE DANCES AND RITUALS OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN FEASTS THAT NOW HONOR BOTH THE CHRISTIAN AND INDIAN TRADITIONS.

>>AFTER MIDNIGHT MASS, PUEBLOS CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS WITH DAYS OF DANCING.

BUFFALO, DEER AND EAGLE DANCERS ARE PERFORMED TO HONOR SACRED ANIMALS AND ARE INSPIRED BY ANCIENT RITUALS HELD FOR THE WINTERSOLSTICE.

>>ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND ANCIENT PLACES IN NEW MEXICO ARE THE PUEBLO CLIFF DWELLINGS, HIGH ATOP A MESA THEY OVERLOOK THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, WHICH IS REAMED EAST AND WEST BY MOUNTAINS THAT ARE SACRED TO THE NEAR BY PUEBLOS.

>>Anaya: DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASONS, ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE THINGS TO DI ATTEND THE DANCE OF ON OF THE MATACHINES AT ONE OF THE INDIAN PUEBLOS.

I'VE BEEN ATTENDING THE DANCE OF THE MATATHINAS FOR YEARS.

AND I'M VERY TAKEN BY THIS DRAMA THAT CAME FROM THE OLD WORLD AND IS ADOPTED, TAKEN IN BY THE INDIAN PUEBLO AND BY THE HISPANIC VILLAGES AND IS STILL ALIVE AND IS STILL BEING PERFORMED AND STILL HAS IT'S PROFOUND MESSAGE.

>>Narrator: WITH THE HOLY MOUNTAIN TASCOME OVERLOOKING RUINS THAT DATE BACK TO 700A.D., THE PEOPLE OF SANTA CLARA BEGIN THE EXOTIC MATACHINES DANCE.

>>THE HARMONY OF THE CULTURES IS EVIDENT IN A SPIRITED AND UNIQUE CHRISTMAS RITUAL CALLED LAS MATACHINES.

WHERE THE LITURGICAL MASS AND THE INDIAN DANCERS MEET ALTHOUGH THE DANCE IS A CHRISTMAS FAVORITE, IT CAN BE PERFORMED AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR.

>>THE DANCERS ARE LED DOWN INTO THE PLAZA BY A PUEBLO ELDER.

DANCERS HAVE COME DOWN THESE STEPS FORHUNDREDS OF YEARS.

>>THE DANCERS MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE CENTER OF THE PLAZA WHERE THEY PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR THE DANCE OF LOS MATACHINES.

>>Tafoya: THE DANCE MATACHINES IS, IS VERY, VERY POPULAR AMONG THE PUEBLO PEOPLE, EVEN IN SANTA CLARA.

THE DANCERS ITSELF IS SO COLORFUL.

THE VIRGIN OF IT, BECAUSE OF THE DRUM, AND BEING CONVERTED INTO THE INDIAN LANGUAGE, IT MAKES IT SO BEAUTIFUL.

THERE ARE MANY THEORIES AS TO WERE THE MATACHINES DANCES ORIGINATED.

SOME BELIEVE THAT THE MATACHINAS WERE DANCERS WHO ENTERTAIN THE MONTEZUMA'S COURT.

FERNILE DEZIAS, A SOLIDER OF CORTEZ, COMPARED THESE DANCES WITH A 16TH CENTURY LAS SENTOS IN EUROPE.

COMMON FIGURES THAT ARE A FAR CRY FROM THE SERIOUS MATACHINES DANCE PERFORMED TODAY.

>>MANY COMPARISONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO MASS DANCES WITH MORSE ORIGINS, OR THE DANCE DRAMA OF LOS MORASHIE LAS ES CHRISTINAS THAT WAS A FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT IN SPAIN.

>>Older Lady: IT TRACED BACK TO THE MORSE AND THE CHRISTIANS IN THAT PARTICULAR ERA IN OUR HISTORY.BUT IT IS A CLEVER EVENT, A VERY SYMBOLIC EVENT.

THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE DANCES, THAT I HAVESTOOD PARTICIPATING AS A LOOKING, AND FORGOT THAT I WAS A NON-LOOKING, BECAUSE THE RHYTHM OF THAT DRUM GOES INTO YOU SO THAT YOU FEEL EVERY BEAT OF THAT DRUM AND YOU BECOME PART OF IT.

YOU ARE NOT ISOLATED ANYMORE.

YOUR NOT LOOKING ON.

YOU ARE PART OF THE MUSIC AND THE SOUND.

AND I THINK THE SOUND OF CHRISTMAS ARE DIFFERENT IN NEW MEXICO.

>>Narrator: THE TERM MATACHINES DESCRIBES THE MEN WHO DANCE TOGETHER IN A GROUP.

THERE COSTUMES ARE VERY COLORFUL, WITH STRIKING HEAD DRESSES WHICH RESEMBLES THE MORSE TURBANS WITH THE SCARF'S AND FRINGE.

THE MATACHINES DANCERS WERE FRINGED SHAWLS, HOLDING IN ONE HAND THE CULTURE WRAP, OR THE TRIONTEN OR THE PALMER, SUGGESTING A AZTEC FAN IN THE OTHER.

THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THE MATACHINAS ARE DANCED IN THE SOUTHWEST.

EACH INDIAN PUEBLO HAS A DIFFERENT VARIATION, AND AWAY FROM THE PUEBLOS THE MATACHINES CAN BE SEEN AS PART OF OTHER CELEBRATIONS AND DANCE BY MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH MANY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.

>>THE MATACHINES DANCE SHOWS A BLEND OF THE DIFFERENT ANCIENT PEOPLE IN THE SOUTHWEST IN A SACRED CEREMONY THAT BRINGS MANY PEOPLE TOGETHER TO SHARE A HOLIDAY RITUAL.

>>Older Lady: WHEN WE HAVE THE SIGHT, THE SOUND, AND THE COLOR, AND WE HAVE THE FOOD THAT IS SO VERY DIFFERENT.

ITS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO EXPERIENCE TO KNOW.

AND I THINK WE HAVE THE PEOPLE ANDTHE LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP, AND THE COMPANIONSHIP.

THERE IT CAN'T BE SEPARATED FROM THE OTHER.

THIS ISNOT A SHOW.

IT MEANS PEOPLE TOGETHER CREATING A BEAUTIFUL WAY OF SHOWING THERE FAITH AND THEIR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER AND THEIR RESPECT FOR THERE CELEBRATION OF THIS GREAT EVENT, THE BIRTH OF THE CHILDJESUS.

>>Mondragon: IN CLOSING, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT ALTHOUGH THIS IS COLORFUL AND BEAUTIFUL WITH A LOT OF LIGHTS AND SEEMING FANFARE THAT TAKES PLACE AMONG THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

ITS IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT IT IS SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS IN ITS BASES.

IT COMES FROM THE DEPTH OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

NOT NECESSARILY ONE RELIGION, BUT A COMBINATION OF MANY OF THEM.

AND CERTAINLY AS PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO ENJOY, THAT THEY SHOULD KEEP THIS IN MIND.

KEEP IN MIND THAT IT HAS A RELIGIOUS BASES, IT'S VERY BEAUTIFUL, THAT'S HERE TO ENJOY.

NOT JUST IN THE PICTURES BUT IN YOUR HEART AS WE LOOK AT THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE WORLD IN THE PAST AND IN THE PRESENT TO TRY AND MAKE IT BETTER IN THE FUTURE.

MUSIC >>Narrator: ON CHRISTMAS EVE ON THE SOUTHWEST THE SILENT SNOW SILENCE THE HECTIC PACE OF THE REST OF THE WORLD.

THERE IS A SIMPLICITY IN THE HUMBLE TRADITIONS THAT ARE CENTERED AROUND THE BIRTH FO THE CHRIST CHILD.

THE PLAIN YET CHARMING DECORATIONS OF THE LUMINARIAS, AND FAROLITOS, LIGHTING AN ADOBE WALL REMIND US THAT CHRISTMAS HERE IS ABOUT RICHES FROM THE HEART.

>>PERHAPS THE ONE DEFINING ELEMENT OF CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTHWEST IS THE TRUE COMING TOGETHER OF CULTURES.

LUMINARIAS, FAROLITOS, LAS POSDAS, AND LOS MATACHINES AND MANY OTHERS HELP TIE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES TOGETHER >>CHRISTMAS TIME HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A DEEP FAITH TO CELEBRATE OUR HISTORY AND CULTURE.

>>FEW OTHER PLACES IN THE COUNTRY HAVE KEPT TRADITIONS HUNDREDS OF YEARS OLD SO VIBRANT, SO SINCERE AND SO UNIQUE.