Zozobra - 100th Anniversary
Santa Fe, NM
In 1924, artist Will Shuster created the effigy named Zozobra as a means for the community to purge their troubles and start anew. Since then, the annual burning of Zozobra has become a yearly tradition in Santa Fe, NM, drawing locals and tourists to witness the spectacle and participate in the gloomy event. The 100th annual burning of Zozobra will take place this Labor Day Weekend to much fanfare.
“Shuster’s creation first burned in his backyard in 1924 as a 6-foot effigy and, over the years, has grown to a towering 50-foot high marionette. Made of wood, wire, and cotton cloth and stuffed with bushels of shredded paper, which traditionally includes obsolete police reports, paid-off mortgages, and even divorce papers, Zozobra is a dark and eerie character, part ghost and part monster. Since those early days, the people of Santa Fe, families, and friends new and old, have annually made their way to Zozobra Field at Fort Marcy Park, a few blocks from the historic Santa Fe Plaza, to view this one-of-a-kind Labor Day Friday pageant.” (Zozobra History)
Aside from local newspapers, this story has not been shown to a national audience, and the 100th anniversary would be a meaningful and opportune time to do so. This project will showcase how gathering for a tradition strengthens the community and serves as a spiritual cleansing ritual, all set in the stunning high desert landscape of Santa Fe, NM.
The 100th Zozobra has a number of photo ops that would take viewers inside the event:
● A dedicated group of volunteers undertakes the massive construction process, sewing Zozobra's outfit, stuffing him with paper, and rigging him for the event. These days showcase the community's role in bringing Zozobra to life each year.
● Zozobra is accompanied by a cast of characters on the night of the burning, including "Gloomies" - young children dressed as ghosts who parade around him before the burning. Gloomies have been absent from the celebration for the past decade but will return for the 100th Zozobra. Upcoming dress rehearsals will showcase the coordination involved in the event.
● On the day of the event, attendees are encouraged to burn their Glooms with Zozobra. Glooms are pieces of paper on which people write down their sorrows, problems, anxieties, and worries, which have made them feel gloomy during the last year. A box is filled with these Glooms, and set ablaze inside of Zozobra. “Glooms That Have Been Burned During Zozobra in the Past - “A wedding dress... Love letters... Divorce Papers... Bad grades and report cards... Mortgage papers... Bras from women who have beaten cancer... Hospital gowns... An expensive guitar...”
● Zozobra is constructed on the south side of town and then transported on a semi-truck on the day of the event. The route goes by my elementary school alma mater, Carlos Gilbert, where the entire student body gathers to watch as Zozobra passes by. Children can be seen playfully taunting and celebrating the occasion.
Historical photo of the burning of Zozobra
Images below from the 100th Burning of Zozobra (© Ramsay de Give)
Volunteers layout fabric for Zozobra's outfit
Zozobra Construction Department Chair, Jake Romero
Volunteers measuring fabric during construction
Paper shreds used to stuff Zozobra
Fire Dancer tryouts
El Nido Restaurant opening of the Zozobra Bar
100th Zozobra Steel Statue by artist Don Kennell
Gloomie rehearsal at Ft. Marcy Park
Zozobra Statue inside La Fonda Hotel
