The Burning of Zozobra

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Returning Fri., Sep. 1, 2023, the Burning of Zozobra is a historic New Mexico cultural event staged annually by the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe on Labor Day Friday as a fiery end-of-summer tradition. Zozobra was created by Will Shuster, one of "Los Cinco Pintores," a group of five artists who came to NM in the 1920s. Shuster’s creation first appeared in a 1924 backyard party as a 6-ft. effigy. Over time, Zozobra has grown to a towering 50-ft. high marionette, an icon cherished by spectators from around the world. Made of chicken wire, wood and cloth stuffed with thousands of glooms, this eerie specter was introduced publicly in 1926. In 1964, Will Shuster granted all rights to this beloved tradition to the Santa Fe Kiwanis Club in perpetuity.