Burning Ole Man Gloom

Aztec Fiesta Days: May 31 June 2 ’07. Right on the heels of Farmington’s River Festival, (Memorial Week-end), the neighboring town of Aztec kicks off summer with a carnival, buring of 'Ole Man Gloom', and town parade. The Four Corners Region is a great place to visit and live and this time of year there is always something going on in one of the nearby communities.
I arrived at the park in Aztec with camera in hand and ears open to learn more about this event they call “burning Ole Man Gloom”. I stopped in at Café Bonito’s Booth and visited with Owner Julie, a native of Aztec. She was more than delighted to tell me the story and about the symbolism of the event as I enjoyed one of here bakery fresh cookies.
The tradition of “burning Ole Man Gloom” is a carry over from the Santa Fe Zozobra burning during the fall Fiestas an event now sponsored by the S.F. Kiwanis Club; Gloom was created by Santa Fe artist Will Shuster in 1924.
In Aztec, the tradition symbolizes the casting off of old worries from the winter so you can start fresh with summer. The day of the burning, people write their problems and worries on slips of paper, and stuff them inside Gloom.
At dusk, (aprox. 9pm MDT), Ole Man Gloom is paraded through the park with a precession of people holding lighted candles. At the end of the march everyone gathers around chanting “Burn Him!” and on cue they tosses their candle on Gloom setting him ablaze.
Viva la Fiesta!