A (Very) Brief History of Zozobra

Made of wood, wire, and cotton cloth and stuffed with hundreds of bags of shredded paper, Zozobra is a dark and eerie character, part ghost, part monster, and full enemy of all that is good. The creation of Will Shuster, one of Los Cinco Pintores, a group of artists who set up shop in Santa Fe in the 1920s, it began as a 6-foot effigy burned in his backyard.

Over the years, it grew in both size and significance, until Will handed over all rights to the Kiwanis Club in 1964. It now welcomes visitors from around the globe to participate in a community service event that benefits children through grants and educational activities.

According to official lore, the doom-and-gloom specter is recreated annually to restore balance to the city and its residents. In order to lure Zozobra out of hiding, the city leaders…