Old Man Gloom
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| AMY MAJEROWICZ / The Free Press |
| Local children participate in paint night, giving Zozobra his gloomy look. |
Burning of Zozobra is popular event at Fiestas de Santa Fe
ByAmy Majerowicz / The Free Press
In an undisclosed location in Santa Fe, a bogeyman is taking shape. Just like Frankenstein worked around the clock on his hideous creature, so have the creators of the 49-foot-tall, 1,600 lb. marionette known as Zozobra.
Each year, as a kick-off to Fiesta, this giant effigy, which takes its name from the Spanish “gloomy one,” is placed in Fort Marcy Park and burned in front of a crowd of spectators. Since its inception in 1924 by Santa Fe artist Will Shuster, Zozobra has become one of the most popular events in the city.
“People like to burn things in the dark with fireworks and lots of loud community members,” Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe president Ray Valdez mused.
Celebrating its 84th year, Thursday, Sept. 4 at dusk will mark this year’s Zozobra, what Valdez calls a beloved historical event.
Now hosted by the Kiwanis Club, Zozobra — or Old Man Gloom — has become a symbol of new beginnings.
The figure, created with plywood, wire, muslin and shredded paper, was traditionally stuffed with papers such as obsolete police reports, divorce decrees or anything else people wanted to forget. Today, people can drop by the Santa Fe Reporter office on Marcy Street to stuff the Gloom Box with letters or small items that they wish to burn.
Friday before the event is known as paint night, where families and members of the community come to place the finishing touches on the not-yetconstructed model. Still looking benign, the Gloomy One was in four pieces. But as paint is added — mostly by school age children — a hideous visage began to appear.
“He is built on a set of exacting blueprints,” Valdez said. “Although every year we do something different — eyes, ears, nose, bow tie.”
Holding up two disks rigged with electrical wiring, Valdez demonstrated an innovative addition to this year’s idol.
“We have a special electronic system for eyes, which we tried out the other night. So far, it looks cool.”
On hand for paint night is Queen of Gloom and fire dancer Helene Luna. Before Zozobra is actually set aflame, a choreographed dance symbolizes the destruction of the past years’ woes.
Luna, who is been the Queen of Gloom for the past 12 years, has to perform a quick change backstage in order to fulfill both roles.
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| AMY MAJEROWICZ / The Free Press |
| A young Santa Fean adds the finishing touch to Zozobra’s lower lip. |
“The Queen of Gloom represents gloom and doom,” Luna said. “We’re miserable and that’s why we have such heavy movements. The fire dancer destroys the gloom and represents a new beginning.”
The fire dance, created by former New York ballet dancer and local dance instructor Jacques Cartier, has long been a part of Zozobra pageantry. Like the actual effigy itself, the dance routine maintains certain key components each year.
The tempo of music changes but there are core movements that will always be a part of it,” Luna explained.
Luna, who proclaimed she has the best seat in the house, comes very close to the burning structure — so close that the fire chief is on hand at the event to tell her where to go in case she catches fire. Yet, Luna is not fazed by the potential dangers of performing next a flame engulfed marionette.
“I’m more nervous about being on cue,” she said with a laugh.
In fact, Zozobra — which has long combated rumors of violence at past celebrations — is a very controlled event.
“We have never had a severe injury; we try to go out of our way to make this a community event,” Valdez said.
Part of what makes this celebration a community event is what Zozobra gives back. As the Kiwanis’ major fundraiser, proceeds generated from the price of admission is used to fund several programs for Santa Fe youth.
“The Kiwanis use funds generated from that single one night event to perpetuate college scholarships given out to local area seniors,”
Valdez said. “We also continue to budget the nonprofits and as well as fund an endowment for future scholarships.”
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| AMY MAJEROWICZ / The Free Press |
| Zozobra is constructed of four pieces: a head, two arms and a body which is filled with shredded paper. |
As it has for the past 84 years, Zozobra will continue bringing the community together to witness a true Santa Fe original.
“This is like our New Year celebration,” Luna said. “It’s when three cultures — Native American, Spanish and Anglo — come together.”
For Valdez, who recommended arriving at Fort Marcy Park before 6 p.m., Zozobra has symbolic importance.
“Zozobra gives sense of unity. This is a symbol that belongs to Santa Fe.”
Tickets to Zozobra are $5 in advance, $10 at the gate.
For more information, visit www.zozobra.com.
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