Los Ranchos celebrated the village’s second annual "matanza," a celebratory time for friends and neighbors to reconnect over a day of feasting.
Matanzas are centuries-old traditional gatherings typically held in the fall or winter months as a way to fill the freezer. Today, matanzas are hosted for large celebrations.
The event, attended by about 400 area residents, featured a variety of food items, including pig, turkey and lamb that were slow-roasted in a coal pit. There were also more than a dozen local vendors, along with live music and games.
“Matanza” is Spanish for ‘"slaughter" or "killing." The sharing of food at the event connects New Mexicans with their ancestors, who, before electricity, shared slaughtered animals to ensure everyone had fresh meat during the winter months.
Donald Lopez, mayor of Los Ranchos, told KRQE News, “We’re very pleased the weather was blessed for us, a really nice afternoon. Literally, everybody that is here is really enjoying the matanza, especially the food.”
Lopez said Los Ranchos plans to host the event again next year.
