The History of Raíces
In 2022 a small group of Corrales descendant family members and family members of other early settlers were brought together to talk about the need for forming a group to share stories, empower each other, and work for the common good of these families. A second meeting took place and the group decided that the best way to gather was through food and music. We planned a potluck dance. A few members who were well acquainted with many of the descendant families contacted them through door-to-door visits, conversation with friends, flyers, mail, and email. It culminated in the first potluck dance on October 16, 2022. Approximately, 160 descendant family members attended. It was the first opportunity to gather and network to share family stories and old times.
We continued to meet and had subsequent dances in 2023 and 2025, with similar attendance and enthusiasm. Families fondly told stories about life in the early days and the joy of growing up in a small rural community that valued relationships and kinship with the natural surroundings, like the acequias.
In 2024 Raíces produced “Musica de Corrales,” a two-day celebration of music that came from, and was played in, Corrales over the decades. It brought together many musicians, dancers, and performers that played ancient to contemporary music in Spanish and English. It was a huge success.
Raíces has also presented “Las Posadas/Los Pastores” or “La Pastorella” since 2023. It is the reenactment of the search for lodging by Mary and Joseph at Christmas that has been performed in Mexico and New Mexico for 400+ years. In 2025 the production was expanded to include additional characters as in the old plays in Mexico.
In 2025, Raíces became a committee of the Corrales Historical Society.
In 2022 a small group of Corrales descendant family members and family members of other early settlers were brought together to talk about the need for forming a group to share stories, empower each other, and work for the common good of these families. A second meeting took place and the group decided that the best way to gather was through food and music. We planned a potluck dance. A few members who were well acquainted with many of the descendant families contacted them through door-to-door visits, conversation with friends, flyers, mail, and email. It culminated in the first potluck dance on October 16, 2022. Approximately, 160 descendant family members attended. It was the first opportunity to gather and network to share family stories and old times.
We continued to meet and had subsequent dances in 2023 and 2025, with similar attendance and enthusiasm. Families fondly told stories about life in the early days and the joy of growing up in a small rural community that valued relationships and kinship with the natural surroundings, like the acequias.
In 2024 Raíces produced “Musica de Corrales,” a two-day celebration of music that came from, and was played in, Corrales over the decades. It brought together many musicians, dancers, and performers that played ancient to contemporary music in Spanish and English. It was a huge success.
Raíces has also presented “Las Posadas/Los Pastores” or “La Pastorella” since 2023. It is the reenactment of the search for lodging by Mary and Joseph at Christmas that has been performed in Mexico and New Mexico for 400+ years. In 2025 the production was expanded to include additional characters as in the old plays in Mexico.
In 2025, Raíces became a committee of the Corrales Historical Society.
Las Posadas/Los Pastores
