What Are Ristras & Wreaths?
Ristras and chili wreaths are traditional American Southwest decorations fulfilling a practical purpose---storing dried chilies. Annual ristra and chili wreath production is a fall tradition for the American Southwest, in particular New Mexico. According to the New Mexico Chile Task Force, red chili ristras are "often considered the state's unofficial symbol."
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Purpose
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Primarily, ristras facilitate drying and storing of chilies. Chilies need air circulation for proper drying, and hanging chilies in ristras provides adequate air flow. Ristras and chili wreaths also decorate the outside and inside of homes. For example, replacing a pine wreath with a chili wreath lends a distinctive Southwest flair to Christmas decor.
Appearance
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Measuring from 6 inches to 5 feet in length, traditional ristras are chilies strung together in a hanging bunch or chain. Ristras are also available in a variety of other shapes, including circular wreaths, heart wreaths, fat bunches and swags. Using corn husks at the top of ristras accents the red chilies and enhances Southwestern appeal. Ristras may also include corn, garlic and holiday-themed items, such as pine cones and ribbon.
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Ingredients
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Ristras are traditionally made out of red chilies, although other colors may be used with varying effects. Red chilies' color stays the brightest during drying, providing the most visually appealing ristras. According to New Mexico State University, the "green chili will only shrivel and turn a dull orange color as it dries." Specific red chili varieties used in ristras and chili wreaths include Sandia and piquin. Add garlic, corn husks and Indian corn to ristras and chili wreaths for visual variety.
Construction
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When making a ristra, pick chilies and dry them outside in the sun for a few days. Use cotton string, fishing line or another strong string-like material to tie or string together chilies in bunches. Braid the bunches of chilies and other accent materials onto a central string or wire to create the ristra shape. Create wreath shapes in the same manner using pre-shaped forms such as circles and hearts. Hanging a ristra outside to dry completely finishes the ristra construction process.
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References
Resources
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