Welcome to The Dirt. In every issue, our anonymous writer will give you the dirt on your burning questions about the Amarillo area. Got something you’re just dying to know? Drop us a line at info@brickandelm.com, and our intrepid writer will dig up the answer.
Why do so many people eat tamales at Christmas here? (And where can I get some?)
Tamales are not only a tasty treat, but an anthropological staple dating back to several Mesoamerican cultures, for whom corn was an iconic ingredient in daily life and spiritual traditions. Over time, tamales evolved into a festive favorite for all sorts of special occasions, from weddings and birthdays to major holidays like Christmas.
Beyond allowing families to connect with their history, tamales are popular during the holidays because of the labor-intensive process used to make them. They tend to be made in bulk with large pots full of fillings, pounds of hand-kneaded masa, and stacks of systematically-folded corn husks. It can easily turn into a big, production occupying an entire day (and kitchen, and dining room, and maybe a folding table or two). This means an opportunity for tamaladas—tamale-making parties—when families and friends gather to turn production into its own celebration. That’s why it has become a seasonal tradition.
As for where to get tamales this season in Amarillo, you’ve got several options. If you’re lucky, you can arrange to buy them from friends, coworkers or community members. However, La Super Economica, Tortilleria Lupita, Bracero’s, Diana’s Tamales Burritos & More, and several other stores and restaurants have highly-rated tamales on offer around town as well. Pro tip: Get those orders in early.
How did the Candy Cane Lane tradition start on Gainsborough Drive?
The Amarillo tradition of Candy Cane Lane is the result of a happy coincidence and a whole lot of holiday cheer more than 20 years in the making. According to a few longtime locals, Candy Cane Lane started around 2002 on Gainsborough Drive, in the Belmar subdivision. That’s when late neighbors Ernie McAnally and Dan Reed began lighting up their yards for their grandchildren. They brought the whole block in on the idea of custom candy canes in 2006. After that, things really started to snowball.
To err is human, but so is to take an idea for a fun project and run with it. After those early decorations popped up, neighbors asked for more, or built their own. Families began elevating their holiday decor game, then surrounding streets got into the action. In the following years, this little section of town became a holiday destination, complete with its own live Santa (Hi, Santa Chrys!) and a lot of inflatables.
These days, Candy Cane Lane has expanded into everything from food trucks to charity fundraisers. But the tradition has remained largely uncoordinated. It’s as organic as any holiday filled with LED lighting and blower fans and inflatable polyester fabric can be. Every year, those in the neighborhood keep choosing to create festive displays for others to enjoy, even if it means several weeks of nightmarish traffic.
Candy Cane Lane is, as the youth might say, an “aura farm.” (Or as their trying-to-keep-up parents might say: “It’s lit.”) No matter the phrasing, it shows a kind of home-grown holiday dedication this dirt talker can respect.
