The burning of "Zozobra"

Zozobra is the man of gloom and doom - every year thousands converge on Santa Fe for the burning of Zozobra. He is an eighty foot moving puppet who groans and waves his arms as the audience chants and screams "Burn him! Burn him!" ... eventually the fire sprits at his feet light him; and it's all down hill for Mr. Gloom after that. Fireworks explode and people cheer. It symbolizes the burning of the years gloom. Small children growing up in Santa Fe usually are frightened by 'Old Man Gloom"... but as they grow older they love the celebration... and the community spirit. The town of Santa Fe actually string speakers all around the downtown plaza area and when he is burning you can hear his groans... sends shivers down your spine! Here he is before burning...