A New Mexican Christmas has to be the most wonderful experience on earth. I am a little prejudiced about my home state and our traditions. Join me for a slight taste of what our Christmas’s are like and a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card! 

 

Fabulous Fridays

A New Mexican Christmas

There can be no more special place to spend Christmas, in my opinion, than New Mexico. Our state has a great multicultural mix of Hispanic, Native American, and Anglo traditions and truthfully, the first two predominate.

On a winter evening, there is nothing more special than a stroll through Old Town in Albuquerque, the air scented with piñon smoke while the gentle, golden light of luminarias trails along rooftops, porch railings, and sidewalks. Mariachi music streams from the bandstand, the aroma of hot chili emanating from New Mexican restaurants—there is nothing like it in the world. This is my home, the memories of my childhood, the traditions of my heart that surround Christmas. This short video I found on YouTube gives only a slight feel for he delights of a New Mexican Christmas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf2i7psjKA0

Begin the evening with a steaming bowl of posole, enchiladas, and sopapillas in a brightly lit restaurant decorated with red and green lights, silver ornaments, glowing candles, and piñatas. From the Christmas tree in Old Town, constructed from around 150 individual trees placed in a giant frame to appear as one tree, to white lights glittering on the cactus and yuccas, and the white wooden spires of the 233 year old San Felipe de Neri Church, no other experience can quite compare.

After the cold walk, we snuggle up by the fireplace with cups of hot chocolate spiced with cinnamon and biscochitos, the state cookie of New Mexico, and a delightful Christmas tradition. You can find my recipe for biscochitos at: http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/2016/12/traditional-new-mexican-biscochitos.html

Naturally, I included some of my favorite Christmas traditions in my first book, Land of My Dreams. Bonny Bryant, a New Mexican transplanted to Scotland, teaches her Scottish boyfriend, Kieran MacDonell and his family, the delights of Christmas from her perspective. Here is a brief passage from the book about Christmas. It’s brief because I left out anything that might be a spoiler for those who haven’t read the book!

Land of My Dreams:

Sending him out to shovel the front walk, she assembled the luminarias, consisting of brown paper lunch sacks, filled with sand and a 12-hour votive candle. When lit, they gave a soft glow, reminiscent of every Christmas of her life.

At dinnertime, Bonny led them into the parlor, closing the door while she lit the luminarias, visible through the tall dining room windows when she opened the draperies. Then she changed into her denim, broomstick skirt and a vest in a Native American pattern, with red western boots. Her silver and turquoise jewelry completed her outfit. It felt strange to think she would no longer wear them on a regular basis.

She led them out a side door and up the luminaria-lined walkway to the door. They gave a collective “Oooh” when they saw the table set with bright linens and heard the pulsating staccato of mariachi Christmas music.

“This is really good.” Hamish put honey on his fourth sopapilla. “Maggie and I should visit you over there.”

Maggie reached across the table for her hand. “Bonny, your dinner was lovely. I see now why Kieran insisted on you cooking for us. Your traditions are unique and I can see why they are meaningful to you. I apologize for being less than gracious.”

Bonny sighed. A victory had been won.

***

The question is: What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

From the Land of  Enchantment, “Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Neuvo!”

 

Book Blurb:

Alone and betrayed, American professor, Bonny Bryant longs for a haven of peace. She accepts a position at a small Christian college in Fort William, Scotland, craving escape from her painful past. The passionate love which develops when she meets fellow professor and sheep farmer, Kieran MacDonell, is something she never anticipated.

Kieran harbors a deep anger toward God in the face of his own devastating grief. When Bonny’s former fiancé reenters her life, Kieran’s loneliness draws him to a former student.

How will Bonny decide between her rivals? Can they set aside the past to make way for a future, or will it drive them apart?

Land of My Dreams spans the distance between New Mexico’s high desert mountains and the misty Scottish Highlands with a timeless story of overwhelming grief, undying love, and compelling faith.

About the author:

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore: http:// lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/land-of-my-dreams-norma-gail/1119606864?ean=9781941103173

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