Mariachis at Fiesta de Santa Fe
1938
Courtesy Palace of the Governors Photo Archives (NMHM/DCA), negative no. 057772

Mariachis at Santa Fe Fiesta 1938. The annual early autumn event commemorates the resettlement of Santa Fe by the Conquistador Don Diego De Vargas in 1692. A proclamation in 1712 established the first Fiesta de Santa Fe, and involved a mass, vespers, and a sermon. In addition to these Catholic rites, Fiestas de Santa Fe now includes the ritual burning of "Old Man Gloom," or Zozobra, a 50ft tall marionette symbolizing the hardships and despair of the past year, a Pet Parade, a Historical/Hysterical Parade, and a Fiesta Ball.