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A Centuries-Old Christmas Tradition Lives On In New Mexico

http://www.caminorealheritage.org/html/heritage.html

Among the Spanish traditions brought north from Mexico along the Camino Real was Las Pastorelas, musical plays of the Nativity.  Told from the shepherds' point of view, the plays have been performed in the New Mexico Territory since the 17th Century.  One popular version, La Gran Pastorela, continues to tour local communities during the holidays.

Socorro teacher Sheri Armijo has helped organize the Spanish-language production for the past nine years.  She describes La Gran Pastorela as "living history," a "work of art from the Golden Age of Spain that has been preserved over time."

All performances are free to the public.  Click here for a schedule.

Spencer Beckwith reports on the arts for KUNM. For ten years, until March of 2014, Spencer was the producer and host of KUNM's "Performance New Mexico," a weekday morning arts program that included interviews with musicians, writers and performers. Spencer is a graduate of the acting program at the Juilliard School, and, before moving to New Mexico in 2002, was for many years a professional actor based in New York City.