Friends of El Camino Real Historic Trail

The Historical Trail Site is temporarily closed until further notice.

Trace the Heritage

Unique culture and heritage of NM

La Pastorela

La Pastorela (the Shepherds) is a centuries old Spanish language performance of the Christmas story. Brought to New Mexico over El Camino Real by the Franciscans in the 1600s, it was used to teach the story of the birth of Christ to the native peoples. It is a play, or pageant, peppered with morality and other Christian principles in romantic prose and a bit of humor. La Pastorela was performed in most churches or opera houses in New Mexico until the 1920-1950s, when live entertainment gave way to movies and television.

La Gran Pastorela de Belen, a group of amateur actors, has kept the tradition alive for decades. Using a discovered "old world" manuscript, their archaic Colonial Spanish presentation is a little different than a performance 200 years ago.

The Friends of El Camino Real has sponsored this historic La Gran Pastorela de Belen play the past several years, performed on the equally historic stage of the Garcia Opera House in Socorro. It is a beautiful performance, and a step back in time, enjoyed by all.

La Pastorela Performance

Afterwards, a nice Christmas party by the Friends of El Camino Real

Las Posadas

Las Posadas is a popular Christmas tradition in the Southwest. Meaning "the inns" or "shelter," Las Posadas is a procession led by Mary and Joseph looking for shelter. As they arrive at various places, they sing a song of entreaty from outside in the cold night air, only to hear a song of rejection by those inside. Eventually, they are recognized by those in an inn, and allowed to enter, where the baby Jesus is born. Great rejoicing and feasting follows. La Posadas is often sung on Christmas Eve, or for nine consecutive days from December 16th through the 24th.

This custom was developed in the early Franciscan missions of Mexico and New Mexico, and a tradition that continues to the present day.

Las Posadas song (Spanish)

(Fuera)
En el nombe del cielo, os pido posada,
pues no puedo andar mi esposa amada.

(Dentro)
Aqui no es mesón. Sigan adelante.
Pues no vaya a ser Algun tunante

(Fuera)
Mi esposa es María, la Reina del Cielo.
¿Os pido posada, por solo una noche?

(Dentro)
Pues si es una Reina, Quién lo solicita,
¿Como es que de noche, anda tan solita?

(Fuera)
Yo soy carpintero, de nombre José.
Mi esposa es María, la Madre de Dios.

(Dentro)
Si eres tu José, y tu esposa es María,
Entren, peregrinos. No los conocia.

(Despues de Entrar)
Entren, santos peregrinos, peregrinos,
A este humilde rincón.
No de mi pobre morada, morada,
Sino de mi corazón.

Cantemos con alegria, alegria, todos al considerer,
Que Jesus, y María, nos vinieron hoy a honrar

Las Posadas song (English)

(Outside Singers)
In the name of heaven, I ask you for shelter,
For my wife is tired and can go no farther.

(Inside singers)
I am no inn-keeper; you two cannot stay here.
Since you could be any rascal

(Outside)
My wife is Mary, who is Queen of Heaven.
You refuse shelter, even for just one night?

(Inside)
If she is a queen, who knows of it.
How is it at night, she goes forth so alone?

(Outside)
I am a carpenter, my name is Joseph.
My wife is Mary, the Mother of God.

(Inside)
If your name is Joseph, and your wife is Mary,
Enter, pilgrims, though we not know you.

(After entering the inn)
Come in pilgrims, holy pilgrims,
This is my humble nook.
Not alone on my poor dwelling, my dwelling,
But of my heart.

Let's sing with happiness, happiness, for all to consider,
That jesus, and Mary, they came to us today to honor.


Despues de Entrar

Entren santos peregrinos, peregrinos, reciban este rincon. Aunque pobre la morada, la morada, se las doy de corazon. Cantemos con alegria, alegria, todos al considerer, que Jesus, Jose, y Maria, y Maria, nos vinieron hoy a honrar.

Felicidad

Felicidad hoy to vuelvo a encontrar
Tanto tiempo huiste de mi
Felicidad no te vuelvo a dejar
No padria vivir ya sin ti.

Coro:
Hoy amanece y el sol tiee un raro esplendor.
Escucho el viento pasar
Veo la luna brillar
Al mismo cielo lo miro de otro color
Nada es nueva solo que te conoci


Cristo Jesus hoy te vuelvo a encontrar
Tanto tiempo hui yo de ti
Cristo Jesus no te vuelvo a dejar
No podria vivir ya sin ti

(Coro)

Entrega

Un dia caminaba
Muy triste por ahi senor
Mi corazon gritaba ya no quiero vivir
Sintiendo mil tristezas oi hablar
De ti Jesus decias que
Me amabas
Que habia muerto por mi en la cruz

Coro:
Y aqui estan mi vida
Y mi vox para cantar
Para alabarte senor
Y aqui estan mis ancias
De amar de vivir
De perdonar


Llore en ese momento
Al recordar el tiempo
Ese tiempo que perdi
Sin saber de ti

(Coro)

Oh Virgen Mas Pura

Oh Virgen mas pura, que el nardo y la rosa,
Madre mas hermosa, que el fulgido sol.
Atiende a mi ruego, y escucha mi canto,
y enjuga mi llanto, de amargo dolor.

Coro:
Ya se que eres buena, cual nadie lo ha sido,
Por eso rendido, te vengo a implorar,
Y aqui ante tu imagen, postrado de hinojos,
Con llanto en los ojos, te vengo a implorar.


Cuando yo era un niño, mi madre querida,
amerte en la vida, feliz me enseño,
y amandote tanto, cual nadie a podido,
su encargo he cumplido, ¡oh Madre de amor!


Oh Virgen La Mas Hermosa

Oh Virgen, la mas hermosa, del valle del Aahuac,
tus hijos muy de mañana, te vienen a saludar.

Coro:
Despierta, Madre, despierta,
Mira que ya amanecio.
Ya los pajarillos cantan,
La luna ya se metio.


Aquella alegre mañana, en que apareciste a Juan,
mientras Dios me de la vida, nunca se me olvidara.

Cuando miro tu carita, llena de tanto candor,
quisiera darte mil besos, para mostrarte mi amor.

Envidia no tengo a nadie, sino al angel que a tus pies,
hace cuatrocientos anos, que te sirve de escabel.

Madre de los mexicanos, dijiste venias a ser,
pues ya lo ves Morenita, si te sabemos querer.

Mira que soy mexicano, y por eso tuyo soy,
y busca en el mundo en vano, quien te quiera
mas que yo.

Despierta, Madre, despierta, mira que ya amanecio,
mirme a tu pies postrado, y dame tu bendicion.

Vamos Todos a Belen

Coro:
Vamos todos a Belén con amor y gozo;
adoremos a Señor, nuestro Redentor.


Derrama una estrella divino dulzor.
Hermosa doncella nos da al Salvador.

Almas redimidas, sigloria queréis la gloria del cielo, venid y veréis.

La noche fue día: Un ángel bajó nadando entre luces, y asi nos habló.

Felices pastores, la dicha triunfó, el cielo se rasga la vida nació.

Belén es manida de eterno solaz, dulcisima corre la fuente de paz.

"La vestra, pastores, ventura aplaudid, ya ver al infante donoso acudid."

Portal sacrosanto, portal sacrosanto, dulzura inefable divino espendor.

Postrada te adora mi frente, Señor, palpita mi pecho y ensalza tu amor.

Felices suspiros mi pecho dará, y ardiente mi lengua tu amor cantará.


Noche de Paz

Noche de paz, noche de amor, todo duerme en derredor, entre los astros que esparcen su lux, viene annunciando al niñito Jesus. Brilla la estrella de paz; brilla la estrella de amor.

Noche de paz, noche de amor, oye humilde, fiel pastor, coros celestes proclaman salud, gracias y glorias en gran plenitud. Por neustro Buen Redentor' por nuestro Buen Redentor.

Noche de paz, noche de amor, ved que bello resplandor, luce en el rostro del niño Jesús, en el pesebre, del numdo la luz. Astro de eterno fulgor; astro de eterno fulgor.

Who were the Piro people?

The Piros were the indigenous people of the Rio Grande valley and elsewhere throughout today's Socorro County, New Mexico. In the early 1600s, the Spaniards estimated their population at between 5,000 and 10,000 people living in about a dozen large pueblos along the Rio Grande. They are related to the Tiwa people of Isleta Pueblo (near Albuquerque) and the Tompiros of Abo, Quarai, and Gran Quivera pueblos.

They were a deeply spiritual and peaceful people. They had a spoken, but not a written language. Much of their lives were devoted to survival in the arid New Mexico desert. They planted crops next to their pueblos, hunted small and large game, and processed and stored food to survive through the winter months. Upon Spanish contact, they seemed to welcome, and even help, the arriving colonists, Spanish military, and Franciscan priests. The Piros were largely converted to Catholicism and building missions by the 1630s. Mission churches were built at the pueblos of Pilabó (Socorro), Senecú (San Marcial), Sevilleta (La Joya), and Alamillo (adjacent to Polvadera).

What happened to the Piro people?

In 1680, the northern Pueblo Indians revolted against Spanish rule and expelled the Spaniards from New Mexico. The Piro people, and some of the Tiwa from Isleta Pueblo, fled with the Spaniards to El Paso during the Revolt. They never returned. Instead, they built new pueblos along the Rio Grande south of today's El Paso, Texas and lived with the indigineous Mansos people of that region. These are today's towns of Socorro, Ylseta, and Senecú, Texas.

Where are the Piros today?

Many descendants of the Piro live today in Las Cruces, New Mexico and in the El Paso area, including in their relocated pueblos of Socorro, Senecú and Ysleta, Texas. There are others living in Pueblo, Colorado and Fort Smith, Arkansas. They have combined with surviving remnants of the Tiwa and Mansos people and have formed the Piro-Tiwa-Mansos tribe to keep their ancient culture and spiritual beliefs alive and passed on to the younger generations.

In November 2012, El Camino Real Historic Trail Site invited the Piro-Tiwa-Mansos people for a "Welcome Home" reunion at the Historic Trail Site. It was their first return to their native homeland since 1680. It was an enjoyable, and emotional, celebration as the people of Socorro welcomed back our original neighbors and confirmed our continuing friendship that the Piro people have not been forgotten in Socorro County. Details and photos of the celebration are here.

Pueblo people and El Camino Real trail.

It is important to note that the pueblos that once lined the Rio Grande ... from the Mansos people near El Paso, to the northern pueblos, were connected by trails. It was along these trails that the indigenous peoples traveled from one pueblo to another for religious and ceremonial reasons, hunting parties, and for trade. It were these trails that the Spaniards first followed to explore and colonize New Mexico. It was also these Pueblo Indian trails that became El Camino Real.

The Pueblo people, and the paleo Indians before them, were the original inhabitants of New Mexico and throughout the Southwest.