Santa Fe

Santa Fe is a place unlike any other. Its official slogan, fittingly, is “The City Different.” I had the privilege of growing up there, in what is not only the oldest capital city in the U.S. but also one of the oldest cities in the country. Long before the Spaniards arrived and claimed the land now known as New Mexico, it was a thriving Native American village.

Santa Fe looks as different as it feels. The adobe architecture, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo foothills, is a sight to behold. It has long been a magnet for an eclectic, creative crowd, drawing in artists, writers, and dreamers from all corners of the country.

Canyon Road Galleries

In the early 1900s, a wave of artists made Santa Fe their home, and with the railroad bringing visitors from the East Coast, it quickly became a summer haven for the well-to-do. At 7,000 feet above sea level, on the edge of the desert, Santa Fe offered a cool, dry respite from the sweltering summers of places like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. Art galleries sprang up to cater to the tourists, allowing them to support the local artists who had made the city their home.

The Birth of Zozobra

In 1924, an artist named Will Schuster had an idea that would change the face of the city’s celebrations. He and a group of friends, Los Cinco Pintores (the five painters), had a big party to mark the end of summer. Schuster introduced a creation called Zozobra, or Old Man Gloom—a doll that symbolized all the fears, anxieties, and sorrows of the past year.

At the party's climax, the doll was burned, along with all the burdens of the people. It started small, but it struck a chord with the city.

Modern Days

The idea stuck. The Santa Fe Fiesta is now celebrated around Labor Day each year. And the burning of Zozobra is a massive spectacle, drawing tens of thousands to watch a 40-foot marionette go up in flames. In 2024, for the 100th anniversary, 65,000 people gathered to watch in person, while countless more tuned in across New Mexico.

My first experience with Zozobra was in grade school, and by high school, it became the unofficial start of the school year for me. It was also the backdrop for a three-day festival where friends reconnected and made memories—often with a drink in hand.

This year, I returned, minus the wild partying, and I’m excited to share a video of the experience with you!