By:  Sandra Rice

       When I was a little girl, my family had a tradition.  This tradition was carried out until my early teenage years.  The tradition was to go with the WHOLE family to Las Cruces, New Mexico.  This was during Christmas time.  This was a festival occasion that the extended family also participated in. 

     The trip was to go to the church there.  This huge church sat hundreds of people.  The Voz Vaqueros performed the concert.  The meaning is the singing men of Las Cruces.  This was an all men choir that my grandfather was in, and every year had a solo.  This concert would sell out so we had to purchase our tickets in advance.  The process that my grandparents would go through to make sure everyone was there, and on the same night was horrific.  They had to make sure that everything was going to go off without a hitch.  There were numerous phone calls made, and changing dates and times.  It sometimes took a month to get everyone to go to the concert on the same night.

     When you entered the church, it was a scene like no other.  The colors were fantastic!  It started with the outside of the church.  There were lights that lit up the building, and then there were the luminaries.  They were lit on the sidewalks on your way to the entrance.  You just knew that when you walked into the church it was going to be beautiful.  There was garland around the doorway of the church along with wreaths that were on both doors.  That was just the beginning. 

  The Christmas music was playing from the church organ welcoming you into the church.  When you walk in, there were Christmas lights everywhere.  I would turn one way and there were Christmas lights, then I would turn another there were more.  There was garland around the inside trim of the foyer.  This was surrounded by red, green, and gold bows and ribbon.  In the corner of the foyer, there is an 8-foot Christmas tree lit up with bows and ribbons on it.  There was a radiant angel on top.  When you walk into the church there is garland, ribbons, and bows along the pews of the church.  As we walk to our seats, the beauty entrances you. 

When the concert is about to start the church fills up quickly.  Everyone is talking about his or her Christmas plans, and the beauty of the church.  Then you hear the voices of the all men’s choir.  The men would come from all over the church and then gather in the front to perform.  Our family sits there enjoying the entertainment.  I just cannot wait until my grandfather is going to perform.  It was the highlight of the concert for me.  Then it is time.  He performs his solo perfectly.

Halfway through the performance I started to see fairies.  I saw a fairy!  Then there was two.  Before the end of the song that was, playing there was six.  They were all different colors.  I saw some that were red, green, and gold.  They were bright.  How could anyone else not see them?  They started to be everywhere.  Then one came right to me.  She knew me!  I was excited that I was having contact with one.  She told me that this was her favorite time of the year.  I told her that I agreed that Christmas time was also my favorite time.  She said that she and the other fairies love to come out at Christmas.  Her name was Olivia.  She was their leader.  She said that they only come out when there is a fun and entertaining night.  It is boring for them the rest of the year.  Sometimes they will come out for weddings in the summer.  After I was getting to know Olivia, it was the end of the concert.  I was disappointed because I was enjoying the fairies, especially Olivia.

It was the end of the concert, and they handed out candles for the whole audience.  The last song that was performed was Silent Night.  The choir starts and the audience is then asked to light their candles, and join them singing.  It all sounds beautiful.  To me I am still able to see and hear everything like it was yesterday that I went to the concert.