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All the United States New Mexico Santa Fe Burning of Zozobra

Burning of Zozobra

Setting this massive marionette aflame rids Santa Fe of doom and gloom for another year.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Zozobra.   Will Keightley/cc by-sa 2.0
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Huge crowds… leave quickly   wbr1176 / Atlas Obscura User
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Burning of Zozobra.   Steve Terrell/cc by 2.0
Burning of Zozobra.   Michael Rael/cc by 2.0
Zozobra before the burn, 2014.   osseous/cc by 2.0
Zozobra, 2007.   Rvaldez4108/cc by-sa 3.0
2023 Zozobra  
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About

Every year, Santa Fe residents watch as their sadness and gloom go up in flames. The crowd cheers as the monster representing their sorrows explodes before crumpling to the ground in defeat.

The fiery tradition dates from 1924, when William Howard Shuster, Jr. and Santa Fe artist and marionette maker Gustave Baumann created an effigy called Zozobra (also known as Old Man Gloom) and the ritual burning. The figure was burned at a private gathering. Two years later, in 1926, Zozobra made his debut at the Fiestas de Santa Fe.

Traditionally, burning Zozobra allows gloom and sadness to be dispelled so the fiesta can begin. The 50-foot-tall, white-clad, dreadfully faced marionette is mounted high above Fort Marcy Park. When you arrive at the park, you’ll see Zozobra set against the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. He is quiet for a time, though his arms and long dress flap in the breeze.

As the sky darkens, the staging area lights slightly, illuminating Zozobra as he begins to gradually move. The marionette’s slow movements are accompanied by his melodramatic bellows and cries as bells and gongs slowly settle into a rhythm. The effigy begins to move faster, twisting, groaning, and gesticulating with his arms toward the crowd as if summoning you to come forward and throw your troubles at his feet.

At sunset, little “glooms” appear in brilliant white costumes and dance up and down the steps and across the stage at Zozobra’s feet. As the ritual progresses, Zozobra’s roars increasing. The crowd chants and screams, “Burn Him! Burn Him! Burn Him!” as he growls and moves wildly. All the while, the Fire Dancer, the one who will set him on fire, dances before him.

His growls turn to agonizing screams as the Fire Spirit dances and throws flames at Zozobra’s feet. He begins to scream violently as he is set on fire and begins to burn. Fireworks burst forth from within the marionette, burning him completely, and he crashes to the ground. He then becomes eerily silent, no more than a pile of smoldering remains, the city’s gloom and doom defeated for yet another year.

Related Tags

Fire Festivals Rituals Rites And Rituals Tradition

Know Before You Go

The Burning of Zozobra happens the Friday before Labor Day. During the burning, expect a very large crowd that can get a bit rowdy at times. There's usually a long wait to get in and there are no chairs available, so bring a blanket to sit on. Tickets are required, and you can buy them online. Alcohol is usually not permitted. 

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julesmc

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Edward Denny, Boloz Tiempo, ickaimp, Kerry Wolfe...

  • Edward Denny
  • Boloz Tiempo
  • ickaimp
  • Kerry Wolfe
  • wbr1176

Published

June 20, 2019

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  • https://burnzozobra.com/all-about-zozobra/history/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zozobra
Burning of Zozobra
490 Bishops Lodge Rd
Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501
United States
35.695595, -105.934746
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