Burn the Gloom: Zozobra Is Back
- Santa Fe Sun Handmade
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Only in New Mexico can you take your worries, stuff them inside a 50-foot monster, and then join thousands of people yelling “BURN HIM!”
Welcome to Zozobra.
For more than 100 years, Santa Fe has gathered to send Old Man Gloom up in flames, carrying with him all the worries, regrets, frustrations and general nonsense people are ready to leave behind.
And before the big burn, there’s ZozoFest.
First Up: ZozoFest This Weekend
ZozoFest takes place this weekend, August 28–30, at Santa Fe Place Mall. (Burn Zozobra - Zozobra 102nd year)
It’s your chance to get surprisingly close to Old Man Gloom before his fiery appointment at Fort Marcy Park.
You can see Zozobra in all his oversized glory, check out Zozobra-inspired artwork and collectibles, snap a few photos and, best of all, add your own personal “gloom.”
Write down something you’re ready to be done with and put it inside Zozobra.
Bad year?
Bad date?
Bad decision?
That email you probably shouldn’t have sent?
Old Man Gloom can take it from here.
So Why Do We Burn Him?
Zozobra was created by Santa Fe artist Will Shuster in 1924 as a symbol of the gloom and troubles people carry around with them.
The idea is beautifully simple.
Put those troubles on paper.
Give them to Zozobra.
Then watch them burn.
Over the years, that little idea grew into one of Santa Fe’s most beloved — and certainly one of its strangest — traditions.
Today, Zozobra towers more than 50 feet high, groaning and waving his enormous arms while the crowd waits for his inevitable showdown with the Fire Spirit.
Spoiler alert:
The Fire Spirit wins.
Every year.
The Big Burn Is Next Friday
The 102nd Burning of Zozobra takes place Friday, September 4, 2026, at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe. (Burn Zozobra - Zozobra 102nd year)
Thousands will gather as Old Man Gloom complains dramatically about his fate, the crowd begins chanting “Burn him!”, and the Fire Spirit finally sends the year’s collective gloom up in flames.
There are fireworks, music, cheering and one very large burning puppet.
It is theatrical.
It is weird.
It is completely New Mexico.
And underneath all the spectacle is actually a pretty wonderful idea:
You don’t have to carry everything forever.
Sometimes you can write it down, let it go and start fresh.
Santa Fe just happens to do it with a 50-foot monster and a whole lot of fire.
