Señor Murphy Candymaker – Santa Fe, New Mexico
There’s an ancient New Mexican cuento one of the Land of Enchantment’s most sacred traditions. The cuento recalls a Texan and his family driving through one of New Mexico’s piñon-studded forests. Seeing New Mexican families kneeling under piñon trees, he commented about how devout New Mexicans are. What he perceived as New Mexicans kneeling in prayer was actually New Mexicans kneeling on the ground to pick piñon. All across Northern New Mexico, piñon pickers can be seen on their hands and knees, taking part in a tradition spanning generations. It’s a laborious activity that brings entire families together. In the Land of Enchantment, piñon is as valuable as gold if not more, particularly in recent years when drought conditions have…
