Picuris Pueblo
Named Pikuria - those who paint - by Spanish colonizer Juan de Oñate, Picuris is located 24 miles (38 km) southeast of Taos in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains via N.M. 68, 518, and 75. Picuris, once the largest, today is one of the smallest Tiwa pueblos, with some 1,801 inhabitants (Census 2000). Like Taos, it was influenced by Plains Indian culture, particularly the Apaches.
Annual events
Jan. 1, Transfer of Canes, Ceremonial Dance
Jan. 6, King's Day Celebration/Reyes Day, Ceremonial Dance
Jan. 25, St. Paul's Feast Day, Ceremonial Dance
Feb. 2, Candelaria Feast Day, Ceremonial Dance
June 13, San Anthony's Feast Day, Children's Traditional Foot Races
Aug. 9, San Lorenzo Sunset Dance & Vespers
Aug. 10, San Lorenzo Feast Day, Traditional Foot Races, Ceremonial Dance, Traditional Pole Climbing
Dec. 24, Sundown Torchlight Procession of the Virgin Vespers, Matachina Dance
Dec. 25, Matachina Dance
Dec. 28, Holy Innocent's Day, Children's Dance
(All dates are approximate.)
Picuris Pueblo is open 8am to 5pm, Monday-Friday.
Tourist Fees, 2 Persons $10
Picuris Pueblo Governor's Office, PO Box 127, Peñasco, NM 87553, 575-587-2519
Photograph of the church at Picuris by Janet Burns
