Los Comanches originated along New Mexico’s Rio Grande villages. The Christmas tradition was popular during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Comanche Indians, and sometimes the Kiowas, raided Hispanic villages taking horses and other livestock. They also kidnapped young children as a way of increasing their population. Intertribal clashes had decimated the communities of the Plains Indians.
Keeping Memories Alive
Los Comanches was a a festive affair that brought the community together to keep the memory of the kidnapped children alive. All the young adults participated. The women made costumes of elaborate feather headdresses. The ceremony included a re-enactment of the dances and other activities practiced by the Pueblo Indians along the Rio Grande. Los Comanches continued as a Christmas tradition in many of the villages in Cibola County through the early part of the 20th century.