A SACRED PATH

The Matachine dancers get dressed in the parking lot before their first performance of the weekend. "It's just a tradition, it's a tradition that our ancestors left us from a long time ago. The Matachines come and they dance to the patron saint in respect." said life long resident Ernest Gutierrez...-----------..STORY SUMMARY: ..Small communities around New Mexico come together each year on traditional feast days. The East Mountains community of Chilili New Mexico celebrated the feast of San Juan Neponuceno on Aug. 3. For generations, a day of dancing, praying and feasting has brought the community of Chilili together. The residents do it for blessings, for fun, for each other. A mix of Spanish, Mexican, American Indian and Catholic traditions contribute to the feast of San Juan Neponuceno, the East Mountains village's patron saint.

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Contained in galleries: A sacred path

The Matachine dancers get dressed in the parking lot before their first performance of the weekend. "It's just a tradition, it's a tradition that our ancestors left us from a long time ago. The Matachines come and they dance to the patron saint in respect." said life long resident Ernest Gutierrez...-----------..STORY SUMMARY: ..Small communities around New Mexico come together each year on traditional feast days. The East Mountains community of Chilili New Mexico celebrated the feast of San Juan Neponuceno on Aug. 3. For generations, a day of dancing, praying and feasting has brought the community of Chilili together. The residents do it for blessings, for fun, for each other. A mix of Spanish, Mexican, American Indian and Catholic traditions contribute to the feast of San Juan Neponuceno, the East Mountains village's patron saint.