Vocabulary List 3- New Mexico Folklore

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Across
  1. 3. – A sacred image or statue of a saint, often central to New Mexican Catholic folk art and household devotion.
  2. 4. – In Puebloan and Hopi belief systems, spiritual beings that represent aspects of nature, ancestors, or cosmic forces, often embodied in masked dances and carved dolls.
  3. 5. – In Native American traditions, a trickster figure embodying wit, mischief, and transformation; in modern contexts, also refers to smugglers who guide migrants across borders.
  4. 8. – Spanish for “moon”; symbolically associated with femininity, cycles, mystery, and transformation in literature and folklore.
  5. 9. – “The Royal Road,” a historic Spanish colonial route connecting Mexico City to northern New Mexico, symbolizing cultural exchange, conquest, and migration.
  6. 12. – A legendary creature in Latin American folklore said to prey on livestock, particularly goats, often symbolizing fear of the unknown or threats to rural livelihood.
  7. 13. – Literally “Blood of Christ”; a mountain range in Colorado and New Mexico, named by Spanish colonizers, carrying both spiritual symbolism and geographic significance.
  8. 15. – In Navajo tradition, a malevolent witch with the ability to transform into animals, embodying themes of corruption and the misuse of power.
  9. 17. – Plural of Pueblo; collective term for the many Indigenous communities of the Southwest, each with distinct languages, customs, and histories.
  10. 18. – A historic Pueblo in northern New Mexico and its surrounding community, recognized for its ancient adobe architecture and cultural resilience.
  11. 19. – A Native symbol from the Zia Pueblo, depicting a sun with four rays in each direction; represents balance in life cycles and appears on the New Mexico state flag.
  12. 20. – Spanish for “canyon,” a deep gorge formed by rivers, emblematic of the dramatic Southwestern landscape.
Down
  1. 1. – A ghostly figure in Mexican and Southwestern folklore, “the Weeping Woman,” who mourns her lost children; her story warns of grief, guilt, and consequences of betrayal.
  2. 2. – A traditional healer in Mexican and Southwestern cultures who uses herbal remedies, spiritual practices, and folk medicine.
  3. 6. – A term meaning “village” in Spanish; refers both to Indigenous communities of the Southwest and their distinctive adobe-style dwellings.
  4. 7. – A devotional artist who carves or paints santos (holy figures), blending Spanish Catholic traditions with Indigenous artistry.
  5. 10. – An archaeological term once used for the ancient Puebloan peoples of the Southwest (now considered problematic, as it derives from a Navajo word meaning “ancient enemies”); modern scholars prefer Ancestral Puebloans.
  6. 11. – Spanish term for “bandits”; historically referring to outlaws in the borderlands, often romanticized or demonized in folklore and literature.
  7. 12. – Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616), Spanish author of Don Quixote; his influence extends into Southwestern literature, emphasizing satire, irony, and cultural identity.
  8. 14. – A Puebloan people of Texas and New Mexico, known for their enduring cultural traditions despite colonial displacement.
  9. 16. – A group of culturally related Indigenous peoples of the Southwest; historically known for resistance to Spanish, Mexican, and U.S. expansion.