"The 99th Burning of Zozobra: A Spectacular Event Drawing Visitors Nationwide"
The 99th Burning of Zozobra, also known as Old Man Gloom, is a community spectacle in Santa Fe, New Mexico, that has been burning away gloom and bringing fun, excitement, and renewal for nearly a century. The tradition was started by William Howard Schuster, an artist who sought a cure for tuberculosis in the Southwest. Inspired by a Good Friday celebration in Mexico, Schuster created the effigy of Zozobra to symbolize burning away personal troubles. Despite initial resistance, Zozobra became a central part of the Santa Fe Fiesta, marking the beginning of a weekend filled with festivities.