The Green Forest tribune., 1912-12-13
PUEBLO WOMAN AND HER E1OlIE

retained, preHXlng that or the saint, as San Geronimo de Taos, San Diego de Tesuque, and in others the Pueblo has no name but that of the saint. as San Juan, Santa Clara, San Philipe, etc. But in all the saint is the patron, his or her image is in the village church and the saints day is the occa- sion of the greatest public festival The mixture of Christianity with the old religion, or rather the way the old religion is glossed over with Chris tianity, is one of the peculiarities of the Pueblo condition.
 Their annual festivals as at present conducted are well worth a trip across the continent to attend. It is no exag- geration to say that no such gorgeous spectacular displays of color are any where else to be seen, and the tourist who visits New Mexico in time to be present at the festival of San Juan on June 24, and remains till that at Taos on September 30, meanwhile visiting those at Cochiti on July IA, Santo Domingo August 4, Santa Clara, August 12, and Acoma. September Z, will have seen more strange cere- n1onials, dramatic representations, beautiful and weird dances and spectacular effects than In a lifetime of travel in foreign lands. It is con stant source of wonder that Amerl- cans will cross the ocean to distant climes in search of the interesting, the novel and the beautiful. and neg lect these marvellous exhibitions in their own land
 Open Hospitality.
 All the preparations for the cere- monial dances occupy several weeks ill advance of the occasion; the young CT participants are carefully instruct ed, and the garments and ornaments, all of which are precisely described as to material color, form, etc, are duly prepared. On the preceding day temporary structure or booth is erect ed on one side of the principal plaza the sides being covered with ever greens and the inside being hung with , gorgeous Navajo blankets. The front is open and at the back is placed a table covered with blankets as tenn porary altar. At sunrise of the festi- val day an official, who is called a herald, makes proclamation from the housetops in various parts of the town that the day is to be properly celebrated, and calls on all to parti- cipate At g o'clock mass is said in the church, and at its conclusion the people form a procession and carry the image of the patron saint from the church to the temporary altar in the booth, where it remains all day. Soon after the principal dance of the day begins and lasts for several hours. Each pueblo of any size contains two Estufas or underground circular coun- cil chambers, and the people are divid- ed into two parties or clans called Chalchuite and Calabasa, one of which belongs to each Estufa. The dancers redezvous in the Estufas, and dance alternately through the day, one set relieving the other at stated inter- vals, so that the dance itself is con- tinuous. The numbers vary accord ing to the size of the pueblo.
 Long before the dances begin the pueblo is filled with visitors and every house is thrown open to entertain the guests. It is the time for the renewal of old acquaintances, but the stranger is as welcome as the oldest friend. and the spirit of hospitality rules the hour. In every house great alla full of stewed meat and vegetables is of fered to the guest. The scene on the plaza is one of peculiar brilliancy
 The ceremonial dresses of the dan cers are bright with color and, in most cases, of much richness and beauty The visiting Indians carry the gaudiest and richest of Navajo blan. kets, the bright scarlet In which adds
 much to the picturesque nature of the scene