New Mexico Fun Facts

NM is the 47th state to join the Union and did so on January 6, 1912.
It is the 5th largest state in the union
It shares with Colorado as two of the only four states that meet at one point, known as the Four Corners.
Santa Fe is the oldest capital in the United States, dating back to 1610
New Mexico’s state cookie is the biscochito and Ristras will certainly offer it during the Christmas season and periodically throughout the year.
New Mexicans generally spell ‘Chile’ with an ‘e’ not an ‘i’.
The art of Ristra making is a century old tradition started in New Mexico and southern Colorado. Ristras serve a practical pupose of drying the chile pods and also are hung to be sign of welcome and hospitality.
NM cuisine’s trademark is their sauces of either green or red chile.
Often burritos will only have meat, cheese and chile sauce and some places have potatoes (such as Ristras) – rice is never included!
New Mexico is the leading state in chile production with more than 21,000 acres under cultivation.
The crisp, puffy, deep-fried pastry known as a sopapilla was thought to have originated in Albuquerque more than 200 years ago.
Sopapilla means ‘little pillow’.
Tia Sophia's, a Mexican café in Santa Fe, New Mexico, claims to have invented the original breakfast burrito in 1975, filling a rolled tortilla with bacon and potatoes, served wet with chili and cheese. Reference: Anderson, Judith (1998-05-24). "What's Doing In; Santa Fe". The New York Times 18 August 2007

State Flag

The state flag of New Mexico was chosen in 1920, by a competition that was won by Dr. Harry Mara. It uses the ancient Sun symbol known as a Zia. The colors red and yellow are used because they were the colors of the flag of the Spanish conquistadors who went to New Mexico in the early 1500's.

Interesting Web Sites

New Mexico Tourist Info
http://www.newmexico.org

Balloon Fiesta
http://www.balloonfiesta.com/

Santa Fe
http://www.santafenm.gov/

Zozobra
http://www.zozobra.com/kiwanis.html

NM Cuisine
http://www.buenofoods.com/