Thread by @jeremyjojola

Today is the first day of #HispanicHeritageMonth!

I'd like to begin a 31-day thread here with the goal of sharing stories & images that reflect my northern New Mexico heritage.

On Day 1, let me begin with this @9NEWS video from 2017 featuring my grandma. 1/

Day 2: Los Penitentes were religious community advocates in remote villages.

AKA, “Los Hermanos de la Fraternidad Piadosa de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno.”

My great-grandfather, Roman Lopez, was a farmer & leader with title “Hermano Mayor.”

Link: history.denverlibrary.org/news/hermanos-…

Day 3: Al Hurricane and NM Spanish Music! 🎶

This music has a very distinct style with many regional bands.

Hurricane has been called “El Godfather” of New Mexico Music.

My favorite NM Spanish song is Valentin de La Sierra by Tobias Rene: open.spotify.com/track/6QO1KeYE…

DAY 4: The pilgrimage to El Santuario de Chimayó.

This is a very important and sacred church for people in NM, especially during Holy Week.

My dad and I did the pilgrimage from Santa Fe one year. My family has prayed here for many years.

Read more: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Santua…

Day 5: Chile.

The chile pepper has been a NM staple for hundreds of years.

It’s a way of life and a cultural identifier. Families grew their own and would come together to harvest and peel it.

And we spell it CHILE.

My grandma pictured.

More here: hatch-green-chile.com/pages/new-mexi…

Day 6: The railroad.

The industry had an immense impact on NM. Young men left farming villages to work on rail lines throughout the southwest.

Here’s a photo from 1920s showing my great-grandfather (center, white shirt/black hat). He was a rail foreman. 🚂

DAY 7: Piñon picking.

Every few years the piñon trees in NM produce a nice yield of pine nuts. For Hispanics & Natives, piñon picking is a tradition. People put blankets under trees and hit them so nuts can fall. It’s tedious.

More here:

axios.com/2021/11/02/dis…

DAY 8: Spanish Land grants.

Many mestizo families were part of crucial communal land grants which, in turn, were obtained by the US government and others through nefarious dealings after 1848.

My family is tied to this historical grant.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Migue…

DAY 9: Genízaros.

Slavery existed in NM. Detribalized natives who were indentured into Spanish families were called Genízaros.

This was EXTREMELY common. This is why many people who have long identified as “Spanish” have native ancestry.

npr.org/2016/12/29/505…

DAY 10: San Jose del Bado.

My ancestors have lived in this village since 1803, possibly before.

Good history here. legendsofamerica.com/san-jose-new-m…

DAY 11: Hornos.

Many people in NM/southern CO had/have adobe hornos to make chicos and bread.

Here’s a great look at the tradition by Kate Perdoni of @rmpbs rmpbs.org/blogs/rocky-mo…

DAY 12: A bridge.

A few years ago I was able to find an article about my great-grandfather who built a bridge while he was the oldest man in his little village.

I wrote this up a few years ago, but here it is again.

jeremyjojola.com/2018/07/18/a-s…

DAY 13: Coronado hot dogs!

This brand has been extremely popular in northern New Mexico for decades. A fried hot dog put on a tortilla with mustard is the way to go.

A LOT of families know what this is about.

These are images from a cookout we had at my grandma's last year:

DAY 14: Rudolfo Anaya.

Anaya is one of the most beloved authors in NM who captured the essence of the north through his works. I interviewed him a few times during my time at @KOB4 in Albuquerque.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolfo_A…

DAY 15: The Zia

Today's Zia was originally inspired by an old piece of pottery that was stolen from Zia Pueblo. It has been returned. The former governor gave me a signed photo of it years ago.

Today the Zia is embraced by everyone as a symbol of heritage and pride.

DAY 16: The Milagro Beanfield War.

One of my favorite books/movies. The film captures the essence of northern New Mexico rural life. My favorite character is of course Amarante Cordova and his pig Lupita.

“Nobody would do anything if they knew what they were in for.”

DAY 17: Santos/Saints

Catholic saints everywhere in homes. Santo Niño seen here is a popular saint. You can see my grandma’s lipstick stained on this santo.

During colonial times priests used Santos as visual tools to try and convert Native peoples.

…lonialmexicoinsideandout.blogspot.com/2014/09/unders…

DAY 18: Mis Crismes. 🎄

It was like trick-or-treating.

Kids in rural northern NM would go door-to-door on Christmas morning, knock and say “¡Mis Crismes!” (Which meant “My Christmas!)

Adults would hand out treats like apples and candies.

santafenewmexican.com/magazines/feli…

DAY 19: A unique Spanish dialect.

The dialect of my ancestors is fading away as elders pass.

Here, I share more about its history and how some people are trying to keep this beautiful treasure alive.
9news.com/article/news/c…

DAY 20: Luminarias/Farolitos.

These appear during the holidays. Candle lights placed in paper sacks.

A long-time tradition. I love the way they look.

(And there's always a debate what to call them - farolitos or luminarias).

nmhistorymuseum.org/blog/2014/12/l…

DAY 21: Acequias.

These are very old waterways and ditches that have been the lifeblood of people in New Mexico for hundreds of years.

Water, like everywhere, is precious and the Mayordomo would manage the water in a community.

More here: newmexiconomad.com/acequias/

DAY 22: Burning piñon in winter. 🔥 🪵

There’s a very distinct scent in rural parts of northern NM during cold months—burning piñon (pine).

I love it.

Many families rely on wood stoves for warmth.

That’s Rudy near un fogón at my wife’s parents place in Rio Arriba County.

DAY 23: La Llorona legend 👻

While the ghost story is now global, the legend initially permeated Mexico & the southwest.

When I'd stay with my grandparents, they'd tell me to stay away from rivers/arroyos/ditches because she was lurking about.
santafenewmexican.com/news/local_new…

DAY 24: La Marcha de Los Novios

This is a wedding dance popular all over the southwest, but it is extremely popular in New Mexico.

In 2019 a lawmaker proposed it become the state’s official dance.

Photo: We danced it at our wedding in 2009.

More: news-bulletin.com/la-marcha-de-l…

DAY 25: Biscochitos.

This is a cookie made up of anise and cinnamon usually made around the holidays.

See photo of a batch I made last year for Christmas.

Recipe here: innofthegovernors.com/famous-biscoch…

DAY 26: Grandmother’s blessings.

My grandma always has holy water at home and she makes sure she does a blessing before I leave.

Here’s video of her blessing my car a few years back.

I’ll miss these little moments.

DAY 27: Sopaipillas / buñelos

While popular in the southwest, historians theorize sopaipillas were first brought to NM by the Spanish. Some people in the north call them buñuelos.

More: newmexicoculture.org/guide/2018-win…

In my opinion, @TomasitasSFNM has the best.

DAY 28: Adobe.

This is an old, but effective way to build homes in New Mexico, which was first started by native peoples more than 1,000 years ago.

This is what's left of my great-grandfather's home. Construction was often improvised with chicken wire and bottle caps/nails.

DAY 29: Green chile cheeseburgers. 🍔

My FAVORITE thing to make/eat.

This burger has quite the history in NM. The Owl Bar Cafe in San Antonio, NM claims to have made the original in the 1930s.

Here's some I've grilled this past year.

More history: newmexicomagazine.org/blog/post/orig…

DAY 30: Ancestors.

The people who managed to live in remote regions of NM were self-reliant and depended on the earth for survival.

Our ancestors toiled and went through many untold tribulations.

As I come close to ending this thread, they have my deepest respect.

FINAL POST. DAY 31: La gente/The people.

A mix of peoples from so many backgrounds who created their own heritage and culture forged over hundreds of years.

The history is too complex to summarize, but it is indeed beautiful and so special.

Art by Edward Gonzales.