Experience Santa Fe’s Zozobra – the original Burning Man!

I bet you’ve never heard of Zozobra, but I’m sure you know all about Burning Man. After all, the latter has been going on since 1986 and continues to be a hot ticket, no pun intended! Getting into this annual event, however, involves much advance planning, and if you’re lucky to get one of the coveted spots, be prepared to shell out several hundred dollars at a minimum.

Though Burning Man certainly has longevity, it doesn’t come close to Zozobra, which got its start back in 1924 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This unique annual event, held on the Friday of Labor Day weekend, is an exciting and fiery finale to the last days of summer. And to witness this spectacle will only set you back $20-30, depending on when you buy your ticket.

Zozobra 2021 Photo by Melinda Herrera

Story has it that artist Will Shuster created the first Zozobra as the highlight of a private party for a group of artists and writers who came to New Mexico in the 1920s. He was inspired by Easter Holy Week traditions in the Yaqui Indian communities of Arizona and Mexico, in which an effigy of Judas is led around the village on a donkey and ultimately set alight. Shuster and his friend, E. Dana Johnson, editor of the local newspaper, came up with the name Zozobra, which in Spanish means “anguish, anxiety or gloom.”

The artist burned his first creation, a six-foot effigy, in his backyard. Today, Zozobra has grown to a towering fifty-foot-high marionette, who takes centerstage in the city’s Fort Marcy Park. He’s made of wood, wire and cotton clothes and stuffed with yards and yards of shredded paper containing a year’s worth of gloomy thoughts and disappointments – everything from bad habits, hurt feelings, old love letters, divorce papers, parking tickets, photos and more. Zozobra takes the blame, or rather the credit, for all that goes wrong in life.

Zozobra 2017 Courtesy of the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe

Shuster personally oversaw the construction of Zozobra until 1964 when he turned over his detailed model, past drawings and scripts to the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe, who have faithfully continued to stage this historic, 99-year-old tradition. It’s the club’s major fundraiser and as such has become a rewarding way for locals and visitors from around the world to have fun and at the same time participate in a form of community service.

Zozobra is actually one of the world’s largest functioning marionettes and is able to wave his arms and move his head, as well as use his mouth to growl ominously before meeting his demise. The Fire Spirit is his arch nemesis. Clad in a flowing red costume and headdress and waving a pair of blazing torches, the Fire Spirit is tasked with ending Zozobra’s reign of terror.

Interestingly, the role of the Fire Spirit originated by Jacques Cartier, former NYC ballet dancer and local dance teacher. Cartier performed this part for 37 years. Currently, this coveted role is held by Santa Fe native, dancer Helene Luna.

Zozobra 2015 Courtesy of the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe

With thousands of people eagerly looking on, the Zozobra musicians play an eerie tune to set the mood. Zozobra, who is trapped on his pole, angrily swivels his head back and forth trying to see what’s happening. He flails his arms, growls in frustration, calling out to his gang of gloomies to rescue him, but they are chased away by torch-bearing locals who set bonfires on the platform.

And then the Fire Spirit takes centerstage, taunting Zozobra, whose frenzied antics and howling increase, while the crowd goes wild. Eventually, the Fire Spirit lights Zozobra’s head on fire, sealing the monster’s fate. As the flames rise, Zozobra goes up in smoke and gloom is vanquished for yet another year.

So, if you want to cast off the sorrows and unfortunate happenings of the past and get recharged and renewed, go to Santa Fe, the City Different, for one of the most different traditions you’ll ever experience!

www.burnzozobra.com