Santa Fe -- with its adobe architecture, and mix of Anglo, Hispanic, and Native American cultures-- is a strikingly beautiful city to explore. At Christmas-time, these three traditions come together for a unique festive season.
For starters, there's the "farolitos", the "little lanterns", also called "luminarias": hundreds of glowing lights line walkways and rooftops, each one a small paper bag with sand in the bottom, and a small candle inside. On Christmas Eve the Santa Fe Plaza glows with farolitos.
A good place for kids to see Santa and his elves is "Christmas at the Palace", with Hispanic, Anglo, and Native American Christmas traditions: carols, story-telling, Matachine dancers... "The Palace" is the Palace of the Governors, adobe-style, dating back to the 17th century.
Families can also enjoy an annual Winter Spanish Market, Native American Dances, special Midnight Mass, and outdoor music throughout December. And the Santa Fe ski area is just 16 miles from the Plaza.
Read more about Christmas in Santa Fe.
