On the days leading up to Good Friday, Interstate 285 North was sporting some new additions. Having never lived in New Mexico in the Spring, I had no explanation as to why hundreds of orange cones sprinkled the side of the highway. Nor did I have an explanation for the sign that read “Walkers Ahead,” which if anyone has watched “The Walking Dead”, knows that this is the most terrifying sign ever made.
So what was all this about? Each year, tens of thousands of people set out on a multi-mile pilgrimage to Chimayo on Good Friday. Chimayo, New Mexico is home to El Santuario de Chimayo, a holy site that for 200 years has been made famous by the numerous miracles performed there. El Santuario de Chimayo is perhaps best known for its holy dirt that can be collected from a small, dug-out hole in the floor in a separate section of the adobe chapel.
Each walker has their own reason for participating in the “Lourdes of America,” as many locals call it. Some sport backpacks, while others carry crosses. Some seek spiritual guidance, while others aim to collect holy dirt to heal their ailments. Regardless of personal purpose, each participant is contributing to a long-standing New Mexican tradition that is a pretty amazing sight to anyone new to the area.
Visit Chimayo whether it’s during Easter weekend or another time of the year. It is a special destination regardless of your religious beliefs. Learn about the history of the Spaniards, who settled in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, as well as the Native Americans who continue to inhabit the area. Join us on our Taste of New Mexico tour, and take some healing dirt or Chimayo chile home with you!
