Fiestas de Santa Fe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fiestas de Santa Fe |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Zozobra and fire dancers at the Santa Fe Fiesta
|
|
| Official name | Fiestas de Santa Fe English translation: "Festival of Santa Fe" |
| Also called | Santa Fe Fiesta |
| Observed by | New Mexico |
| Type | Local, Historical, Cultural, Religious |
| Significance | First held on September 16, 1712, to commemorate Diego de Vargas' Bloodless reconquest of Santa Fe in Nuevo México |
| Celebrations | The lighting of Zozobra, processions, parades, and New Mexico music performances (typically mariachi) |
| Date | Lua error in Module:Wikidata at line 132: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Frequency | annual |
The Fiestas de Santa Fe is a big festival held every autumn in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It usually takes place during the second week of September. This special event celebrates the history and culture of Santa Fe with parades, music, and unique traditions.
Contents
History of the Santa Fe Fiesta
,_Fiesta.jpg)
The very first Fiesta celebration happened on September 16, 1712. It was created to remember an important event from 1692. In that year, General Don Diego de Vargas led Spanish settlers back to Santa Fe. They had left the city earlier during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. De Vargas re-entered Santa Fe peacefully on September 14, 1692.
How the Fiesta Changed Over Time
In 1912, a group led by the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce and Edgar Lee Hewett updated the Fiesta. They wanted it to celebrate all of New Mexico's history. This included the cultures of Native Americans, Hispanic people, and Anglos.
Over the years, the Fiesta became more commercial. This means more businesses got involved. From 1925 to 1932, a group called the Spanish Colonial Arts Society sold special art during the Fiesta. This later became its own event called Spanish Market.
In 1926, some artists and writers started their own free festival. They called it "El Pasatiempo." This event included a funny parade called the Hysterical Pageant. They also started the tradition of burning Zozobra. Both of these fun parts later became a big part of the main Fiesta.
Pauses in the Celebrations
The Fiesta was not held during some difficult times. There were no celebrations in 1917–18 during World War I. It also paused from 1942–45 during World War II.
More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic stopped public events in 2020 and 2021. However, some parts, like the burning of Zozobra, were streamed online.
Modern Changes and Inclusivity
The Fiesta has also changed to be more welcoming to everyone. In the past, some parts of the celebration caused disagreements. For example, the "Entrada" was a reenactment of de Vargas's return. Some people felt it did not fully represent the history of all communities.
Because of these concerns, the Fiesta Council worked to make the event more about peaceful coexistence. They focused on the shared culture and faith of different groups. After many discussions and protests, the "Entrada" reenactment was removed from the Fiesta in 2018. This change helps the Fiesta be a celebration for all people in Santa Fe.
In 2022, the Fiesta returned fully after the pandemic. It featured many great New Mexico music performances. Musicians like Al Hurricane Jr. and bands such as Sangre Joven performed. There were also dances by Indigenous Pueblo Dancers and Los Matachines de Bernalillo.
Fiesta Highlights and Traditions
The Fiestas de Santa Fe begins with special church services called Novena masses. These start with a procession that moves a statue called La Conquistadora from the Cathedral Basilica to the Rosario Chapel. Nine masses are held throughout the week. At the end, La Conquistadora is returned to the Cathedral Basilica. These masses honor a promise made by Don Diego de Vargas.
Burning of Zozobra
A very popular event is the burning of Zozobra. He is also known as "Old Man Gloom." Zozobra is a giant puppet, about 50 feet (15.2 meters) tall. Burning him symbolizes letting go of the worries and sadness from the past year. It's a fun way to start fresh!
Parades and Performances
After Zozobra is burned, three days of celebration follow. There is a children's pet parade, which is always a favorite. The Historical/Hysterical Parade is another highlight. It combines history with funny, playful elements.
The Santa Fe Plaza becomes a lively place during the festival. It fills with booths selling arts and crafts. You can also find many delicious food vendors. Mariachi bands play music throughout the city, adding to the festive mood.
Religious and Closing Events
The Fiesta also includes important Roman Catholic masses of thanksgiving. The festival ends with a mass at the St. Francis Cathedral. This is followed by a beautiful candlelight procession to the Cross of the Martyrs.
