Chimayo'

by Patricia Trujillo-Oviedo

The name "Chimay " is derived from the Tewa Indian term Tsi
Mayoh and was given to a sacred place of the Pueblo Indians
located in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains between
Santa Fe and Taos. Many of the Spanish colonists who settled
in Chimay after peaceful reentry to New Mexico in 1692 were
descendants of those who left Castile and Extremadura. Nurtured by
their faith and strengthened by the traditions and skills they brought
from Spain, settlers converted a harsh environment into a fertile,
green valley that provided them a livelihood for several generations.
In 1810, Don Bernardo Abeyta, a prominent citizen of Chimay,
discovered a crucifix buried near a sacred well of healing earth, where
he built a church. This is the site of present-day Santuario de Chimay,
also known as the "Lourdes of America." Over the centuries, the
descendants of Chimay colonists developed a unique weaving tradition
that is also known throughout the world. Present-day Chimay offers a
unique glimpse into a culture that has endured for centuries.