ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Maybe you’re cuddling up by a fireplace, waiting by the oven for biscochitos, or driving through neighborhoods looking for luminarias. However you’re celebrating the holidays, one thing’s for sure: we have several cherished traditions here in New Mexico.

“It’s just so stunning when the cars have all gone through, the candles have been burning awhile. It’s quiet, and it’s just and everyone is so happy here, like everyone’s just happy and friendly,” Molly Moran said. 

Whether you call them luminarias or farolitos, one thing is for sure, “It’s just such a beautiful tradition,” Moran said. 

Molly Moran and Wendy York have lived in the Country Club Neighborhood for years.

“We really love to do it. And also, if you don’t do it, you’re totally shunned,” York said. 

The area is an annual stop on the city’s Luminaria Tour, and for good reason. It’s fully decked out in luminarias. 

“Getting out here, lighting everything up, talking to the neighbors and putting this on for lots of people in the city, it feels like a community service,” Moran said. 

It’s not just the luminarias Burqueños are enjoying, hot air balloonists and families gathered for the 35th Christmas Eve Balloon Glow Tuesday. 

KOB 4 spoke to one of the organizers, Todd Kersting. He says it started with just luminarias, but some balloonists reached out to him wanting to give back to the metro.

Now they have dozens of luminarias and more than 20 balloons out. Hundreds of people came out to take in the sights and sounds, including some first timers.

The Minor family just moved from Mississippi a year ago.

“Hot air balloons are still exciting to us. We went to Balloon Fiesta just this past year. We have a friend here that is visiting from Mississippi that has never experienced anything like this before so we brought her out,” Maury Minor said. 

Kersting says the holidays are a time to gather with family and friends, but sometimes it can be bittersweet, especially if you’ve lost someone important in your life.

“We are going to pay tribute to people that has lost somebody recently in their lives, and anybody that wants to celebrate overcoming cancer. So it’s a great way to kind of acknowledge them for getting through those tough times,” said Kersting. 

Kersting told us having the luminarias and balloon glow is hitting closer to home, after his brother-in-law, Rosario Zito, was murdered two years ago. 

Zito was the owner of Giovanni’s Pizza. He was shot and killed during a robbery at the store. Now, Kersting is trying to support his sister during this difficult time. 

“It gives me a good feeling to get her out here. Especially during the holidays, because that’s a hard time. Especially, you know, for Christmas and the end of the year, you know? Where you reflect on people that you may have lost,” said Kersting. 

Whether you’re getting ready for mass, lighting up luminarias, or baking biscochitos, Happy Holidays from our family here at KOB 4 to yours.