Autumn Traditions: Zozobra
November 24th, 2009 by John Wolfe
In Santa Fe, New Mexico, about seventy-five miles north of me, it’s been an autumn tradition since 1924 to burn Old Man Gloom, aka Zozobra. The fifty-foot tall marionette is designed to be the embodiment of worry and fear. Each fall, he’s burned to symbolically release that fear and usher in prosperity and good luck in the new year. While I’ve never attended the burning, I’ve always been curious about the proceedings as they have a very pagan feel about them, though most people probably don’t think of “Zozobra” in that manner.
Now, if I could just build my graveyard overseer prop that large for Halloween, I’d really be in business. 
Image source: sfhs88nm.com
This first video shows the “old man” being burned.
Video source: You Tube user santafenewmexican
This second video gives some insight into the creation of the effigy.
Video source: You Tube user dlfitch
