fiestas 2012

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2 2012 FIESTA de SANTA FE

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2012 Fiesta de santa Fe 5

Fiesta2012 santa Fe

inside6

sacred promise10

timeline: Four centuries of celebration12

Photos:Royalty for the ages16

Festive fashions from time gone by18

Reconquest through relationships20

adios, Zozobra22

Fiesta event schedule

Published sePt. 1 , 2012

Santa Fe FieSta SongSpanish

Music by Billy Palau,spanish Lyrics by JohnnyValdes, Jr.

Santa Fe, tus fiestas de septiembreSe celebran en la capital

Con Zozobra quemando las penasYa las fiestas van a comenzarTusmujeres llenas de alegriaPregonando van su nuevo amorA la luz de grandes luminarias

Van cantando con placer esta cancion

Si Señor, como no, vamonos al vacilonA bailar y gozar de esta linda poblacion

Santa Fe FieSta SongEnglish

Music by Billy Palau,english Lyrics by avalee turner

In old Santa Fe we have La Fiesta‘Tis the time for singing, dance and play

On this daywe do not take la siestaWhile Zozobra burns the gloom away

Steel guitars are softly strummingmusicSeñorita, come along withme

Luminarias all are shining brightlyAt the baile, fancy costumes youwill see

Si Señor, como no, let’s go out and have some funAndwe’ll see Santa Fe in Conquistadores way.

Cover photoGene PeachCover designDeborah Villa

ownerrobin Martin

publisherGinny Sohn

editorrob Dean

EditorialCreative direCtor Deborah Villa986-3027, [email protected] editor craiG SMith

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Photos Gene Peach

6 2012 Fiesta de santa Fe

By Emily DraBanski

In this era of broken political promises,the concept of an everlasting vow isalmost incomprehensible.Yet this year’s Fiesta de Santa Fe— and those thatprecede it — celebrates a promise put inwritingon September 16, 1712. The proclamation byGeneral Juan PaezHurtado called for an annualfiesta to commemorate the achievements of DonDiego de Vargas, who reclaimed the region for theSpanish crown at the behest of King Carlos II. Theproclamation reflected the strong Catholic faith ofde Vargas and called for vespers, aMass, a sermonand a procession through the Plaza.At the heart of the proclamationwas de Vargas’

religious devotion to the VirginMary, whoseintercession he sought in his quest to recolonizeSanta Fe. In 1625, Fray Alonso de Benevidezbrought a statue ofMary— known first as LaConquistadora and later renamed SeñoraNuestrade la Paz— to Santa Fe. Formany of Santa Fe’sCatholics, this devotion toMary, and the offeringof thanks to her, are the core of the Fiesta promise.While fiesta has its roots deep in religious

culture, the celebration todaywelcomes everyone,said Deborah A. Norris Sparks, president of SantaFe Fiesta, Inc. “We honor all the cultures thatmake up the rich cultural fabric of our city—Native Americans, Spanish,Mexican andAnglos.It’s important to keep all of our cultures alive.”“Fiesta [also] offers awonderful educational

opportunity,” said historian Thomas E. Chávez,former director of the Palace of the Governorsand a 13th-generationNewMexican. “It’s bystudying our history that we learnmore about ourancestors and ourselves.”When the 1680 Pueblo Revolt led by Po’Pay,

a Tewa religious leader fromOhkayOwingeh,drove the Spanish out of Santa Fe,many colonistsfled to El Paso del Norte (present-day Juárez,Mexico). Four Spanish governors tried butwereunsuccessful in reclaiming the region for Spain.De Vargas, NewMexico’s 30th Spanish

territorial governor, eventually made twoentradas (entrances) into Santa Fe. The first

KeepingapromiseFiesta celebrates 300th anniversary

Gene PeachCaballeros de DeVargas 2010


came in August, 1692.“Vargas’ initial entrywas peaceful, withoutmuch incident,” state

historian RickHendricks said. “Butwhen he returned [in 1693]with upwards of 800 people it becomeswhatwe [historians] call aprotracted period of conflict.”

During both entradas, de Vargas prayed to the VirginMary. But itwasn’t until 1693 that he and his entourage brought the statue of LaConquistadora—which had been rescued during the Pueblo Revolt— back to Santa Fe.Hendricks, whowas one of the editors of the Vargas Project

(seven volumes of translated papers published by TheUniversity

of NewMexico), said he was always interested in de Vargas as ahuman figure. “I always wonderedwhatmotivated the Spanish whocame here andwhat they were like.”He cites de Vargas’ drive to settle his father’s estate in Guatemala

as one of the factors that brought him to theNewWorld. “It’samazingwhen you think about it,” Hendricks said, referring first tode Vargas’ ocean voyage fromSpain and then his travels back andforth fromMexico to Santa Fe on horseback.The 20-year research project revealed a very human side of the

conquistador. “We knowhe grieved for some time over the death ofhis son,” Hendricks said. (De Vargas’ son, JuanManuel, died on a

Wesley Bradfield, Courtesy PalaCeof the Governors PhotoarChives (nMhM/dCa), #52394

September 1919 Fiesta. Presentation of the flags of the Allied Powersat Victory and Peace Festival.

Courtesy PalaCeof the Governors PhotoarChives (nMhM/dCa),#52821

Fiesta parade, Santa Fe, NewMexico 1921.

Gene PeaChLa Conquistadora Procession 2012

Courtesy1958 Fiesta. Left to right, Orlando Padilla, Joseph Tapia,Joseph (Joe) E. Valdes, Alex Padilla (portraying DonDiego de Vargas) and Phil Baca.


ship coming to theNewWorld.)The project’s documents also revealed amanwith strong

religious devotion. De Vargas died in April 1704, and both ChávezandHendricks suspect that theremight have been an evenearlier proclamation than the one recorded in 1712 calling for acommemorative fiesta, but it has not been found.“Processions,Masses and vesperswere common in those days.

Somuch so, theymight have happenedwithout any comment inwriting. So it’s unclear howmany years those activities have takenplace. Often those religious activities were either preceded orfollowed by other festivities,” Hendricks said.Much of the pageantrywe see in today’s fiesta has its origins in

the late 19th and early 20th centuries. But “fiesta, itself, is alwayschanging and evolving,” Chávez added. He cites the 1883Tertio-Millennial Exposition in July andAugust of that year, with its threedays of historical re-enactments emphasizing Indian,Western andSpanish culture, as influencing the feel of contemporary Fiesta. The1883 eventswere amodel of amultiple-day celebration andChávezsuggested it could bewhymany refer to Fiesta de Santa Fe in theplural — “fiestas.”Hendricks noted that a newspaper account first used the

expression “Plaza fiesta” onAugust 23, 1904 referring to a Santa FeWomen’s Board of Trade fundraiser for the public library. It was asimpler affair than today’s Fiesta, Hendricks said. “It wasmore likewhatwe’d think of as an ice cream social.”It wasn’t until July 4, 1911 that therewould be another

celebrationwith re-enactments. That Fourth of July event featuredwhatwas billed as a “DeVargas Pageant,” touted to attract touriststraveling on the railroads. It alsowas part of a grander scheme tohaveNewMexico fit inwith the rest of theUnited States as thequest for statehood became heated. The next year, when statehoodwas finally achieved, a similar celebration took place.For several years after, the pageantry ceased. According to a

July 31, 1916 account inThe Santa FeNewMexican, the chamberof commerce called for “a revival on a stupendous scale of theDeVargas Pageant.” That came about on September 11 to 13, 1919.Many other elementswere gradually added, such as the

Pasatiempo parade that evolved into today’s Hysterical/Historicalparade.Former Santa Femayor and former Fiesta director Joseph “Joe”

E. Valdes, who celebrates his 82nd birthday in September, has fond

memories of Fiesta.“I always start Fiesta by going to the FridaymorningMass. That’s

the official opening. And I still enjoy the parades,” Valdes said in hisoffice at Valdes Paint andGlass.“You couldn’t have a Fiesta like I experienced as a child.

Government regulationswould shut it down,” he saidwith a heartylaugh. “During the ’20s and ’30s, I remember the food boothswereall heating food by usingwood and coal stoves. You could really seethe smoke. It’s a wonder therewasn’t a terrible fire.“And in those days, folkswho lived onCanyonRoadwould come

inwith their burros and horses. They’d give us a ride for a nickel or adime. It surewas fun.“I’ve always had a heartfelt feeling for Fiesta. It’s inmy blood,”

Valdes said. His brother, the late JohnnyG. Valdes, wrote theSpanish lyrics to the Santa Fe Fiesta song.“I also remember years ago that themore affluent would go to

the Conquistadores’ Ball and the rest, the people, went to Bailede la Gente (the dance of the people) in front of the Palace of theGovernors,” Valdes said. “I always remember the pet parades. But itused to bemostly full of kids and pets. Now you go and you see kids,pets, parents and grandparents.”Chávez recalls portraying a friar in the DonDiego de Vargas

Cuadrilla in the ‘80s. “I have to hand it to those folkswhoparticipate. It’s a lot of work,” he said. As a historian, he suggestedthat the friars’ robes be blue. “Also, aftermany years they stoppedusing the armor costumes,” he said. Leather attire wasmoreappropriate for the time period.For this year’s 300th anniversary, Norris Sparks said therewill

bemore outreach activities by the Fiesta royalty and themariachisthan usual. “They’ll be everywhere.We’ll be bringing Fiesta intothe schools, nursing homes and detention centers,” she said. “Wehave a lot of dedicated volunteers whowork all year tomake Fiestapossible.”Andwhat’s her favorite part of Fiesta?“I get emotional when I talk about this. ButMary became really

important whenmy sonwas overseas in themilitary. So thereligious activities are important tome,” she saidwith a catch in herthroat. “It’s still important since he returned.“And I just love going downtown and seeing everyone I know.”

Then she flashed a broad smile, “And it just wouldn’t be Fiestawithout eating one of thewonderful tortilla burgers.”

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1607: Santa Fe area settled.1609-1610: Formal founding of Santa Fe;construction of Palace of the Governors begins.1626: Padre Fray Alonso de Benevidez brings LaConquistadora, the America’s oldest Madonna, toSanta Fe fromMexico City.1680: Pueblo Revolt. Josefa Lopez Sambrano deGrijalva removes La Conquistadora from Palaceof the Governors before fleeing Santa Fe. TheMadonna accompanies the Spanish colonistssouth to El Paso del Norte, now the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez area.1692: Peaceful re-entry into Santa Fe by DonDiego De Vargas and his troops.1704:De Vargas dies.1712: Proclamation establishing the first Fiesta deSanta Fe. The document calls for an annual Massand vespers, and states that someone “who maybe fitting” should give a sermon and be paid 25pesos for it.1821: Santa Fe Trail opens.1848: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends MexicanWar.1854:Gadsden Purchase fromMexico setscontinental U.S. borders and adds 45,000 acres toNewMexico.1886: Blessing of St. Francis Cathedral, then underconstruction.1888: Feb. 13: Death of Archbishop Lamyreported.1897: President WilliamMcKinley appoints M.A.

Otero governor of the territory.1898: Spanish-AmericanWar. Lt. Col. and futurePresident Theodore Roosevelt assumes commandof the volunteer cavalry regiment known as theRough Riders, which boasts many members fromNewMexico.1902:An editorial in The NewMexican deplorescitizens’ disparaging use of the term “Mexican.”“If anybody is entitled to the appellation of‘American’ it is the people who are descendants ofmen and women who lived in NewMexico whenthe ancestors of the later comers were probablyliving in the squalor of some European hamlet orAsiatic village.”1909: Palace of the Governors receives its firstrenovation under the direction of Jesse Nusbaum.1910:GeorgeWashington Armijo is electedto portray Diego de Vargas in the first DeVargas Pageant, which replaces the traditionalreconquest celebration.1911:Museum of NewMexico produces DeVargas Days, one of the first organized attemptsat drawing on Santa Fe’s history and culture astourist attractions. The event continues through1913.1912:NewMexico statehood.1917:Museum of Fine Arts dedicated.1919: Cols. Jose Sena and Ralph Twitchell revive amodern version of the old Fiesta.1922: First Fiesta Melodrama: A group calledFiesta Players writes and performs The Sorcerers ofNambé. Future melodramas continue sporadically

throughout the 1920s and ’30s.1923:Members of San Juan Pueblo perform theYellow Corn Dance, Basket Dance andWhiteBuffalo Dance at Fiesta.1924: Artist Will Shuster first burns a puppet inhis yard at Fiesta time.1925: Creation of Spanish Colonial Arts Society.Tentative budget for this year’s Fiesta is $11,000,including $6,000 in ticket sales and $2,500 forunderwriting housing, food and horse forage costsfor Pueblo members presenting dances and craftactivities.1926: Shuster’s puppet is named Zozobra—gloom or unease in Spanish— by then-NewMexican editor Dana Johnson. Gustave Baumannhelps build the effigy, but miscommunicationresults in a head half the size of the body. Firstannual Spanish Colonial Arts and Crafts exhibitheld at Museum of Fine Arts in conjunction withFiesta.1930s: The county puts up a 44-foot pole atMarcy Park to serve as Zozobra’s stake.1935: Founding of La Sociedad Folklórica tosupport Spanish culture, language and traditionin Santa Fe.1938: John GawMeem active in efforts torecapture Fiesta spirit of the mid-1920s.1947: Johnny Valdes Jr. and Billy Palou write theFiesta theme song to a traditional melody. TheNewMexican reports, “The fine saddle and paradehorses of the Saddle and Sirloin club of KansasCity drew tremendous applause from onlookers asthe Kansas Citians made their impressive entrada

FIESTA TIMELINE

1919 Fiesta 1920 Fiesta 1921 Fiesta

1949 Fiesta 1952 Fiesta 1967 Fiesta


on Saturday afternoon on the Plaza.” More than300 equestrians participated.1940s: Zozobra shrinks to 8 feet duringWorldWar II but is dubbed “Hirohitlmus” after theleaders of the Axis powers.1944: Annual Fiesta “roof show” at La Fondafeatures an active role for the 1944 Fiesta queen1945: The NewMexican reports that due towartime shortages, necessary explosives can’t befound “to send Old Man Gloom sky-high as hasbeen the custom in past years.” Though Shuster“hunted high and low,” the result was “No soap.”1954: La Conquistadora crowned by CardinalFrancis Spellman.1957: The NewMexican reports that heavy rainfallduring Fiestas didn’t dampen enthusiasm but thatpolice arrested 11 people for public intoxication,robbery and other violations.1958: Popular singer Genoveva Chavez makes herFiesta debut at age 15.1960: La Conquistadora crowned by Pope JohnXXIII’s apostolic representative.1961: Fiesta Melodrama starts using originalscripts written by anonymous committee, pokingfun at high-profile citizens and issues.1964:Will Shuster passes preparation andoversight of the burning of Zozobra to KiwanisClub.1969: Shuster dies.1971:After Zozobra burns, youth on Plaza throwrocks at police, who respond with tear gas.

1973: Two teenagers steal La Conquistadora fromher chapel; she is later recovered unharmed.1977: Fiesta is dubbed the Fiesta Differentbecause the event is celebrated two weeks afterLabor Day. Two of the three American Indianprincesses in the Fiesta court withdraw whenofficials from Nambé Pueblo boycott the event“because the Indian vendors were asked to stayaway from the Palace of the Governors duringFiesta.”1985: Santa Fe Fiesta Foundation founded to fundreligious activities during Fiesta weekend.1986: Candlelight procession to the Cross of theMartyrs canceled due to violent thunderstorm.1987: For the first time, ground rather than aerialfireworks are used during the burning of Zozobra.1992: Longtime Zozobra Fire Dancer JacquesCartier dies.1993: La Conquistadora receives the title “OurLady of Conquering Love, Queen of Peace.”1994: Cora Archuleta elected first womanpresident of Santa Fe Fiesta Council.1996: First Winter Fiesta.1997:Genoveva Chavez dies Dec. 5.1998:NewMexico’s Cuartocentenario; Zozobraburns on a Thursday rather than a Friday. KiwanisClub reports revenues down 50 percent fromprevious year.1999:Gov. Gary Johnson rescinds state workers’traditional half-day Fiesta holiday.2000: Fiesta Council bans Pet Parade participants

from throwing candy to spectators.2001:World premiere of 57-minute Zozobradocumentary shows to a packed Lensic.2002: 290th Fiesta dedicated to Pedro Ribera-Ortega.2004: Palace of the Governors presents an exhibitof more than 100 years of Fiesta de Santa Fe,titled Santa Fe Fiesta: Faith, Fashion and Fun.2006: The NewMexican publishes a FiestaScrapbook of historic photos sent in by readers.2007:Dedication of statue of Don Diego deVargas in Cathedral Park.2009:NewMexico’s 400th anniversary.2010: Sept. 19: Post-Fiesta, 30 of the robes of LaConquistadora, as well as some of her crowns andjewelry, are exhibited at the Museum of SpanishColonial Art.The NewMexican reports that Ray Valdez,producer of Zozobra’s burning, estimates he haspacked “more than $30,000 worth of weddingdresses” as well as divorce settlements, photoalbums, and mortgage papers into the puppet’shead over time.2011: The Fiesta Melodrama’s title is “A CorruptCampaign Contributor’s Combustible Conspiracyto Trick Trepidatious Townsfolk and Take Overthe Territory, or, Radio Killed the Honky-TonkStar, or, Something’s Rotten in the Territory ofNewMexico, or, A Fistful of Danish.”2012: 300th Fiesta

—The New MexicaN

1926 Fiesta Theater 1930 Fiesta 1938 Fiesta

2008 Fiesta1980 Fiesta 1989 Fiesta


Royaltyfor the ages

LaReina de la Fiesta de Santa FeandDonDiego de Vargas

Courtesy photos

DonDiego de Vargas prtrayed by Lee Anthony Garcia y Dominguez

JenaeMonique Cisneros y Roybal


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The Fiesta Council


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By Craig Smith

Founded in 1935 by Cleofás Jaramillo, LaSociedad Folklóricaworks to preservetraditional Spanish customs, as well asthe Spanish language, inmodern SantaFe. One of the organization’smost popularannual events is the “Exhibicion deModasyMerienda” during Fiesta— a fashion showof traditional and antique clothing followedby a teawith bizcochitos and hot chocolate.This year’s show is at 3 p.m. Saturday,

Sept. 8 at the James A. Little Theater on thecampus of theNewMexico School for theDeaf.Ruth Ortega, chair of the Traje

(Fashions) Committee, discussed the kindsof fashions attendees would see at thisyear’s event withme.CS: The fashion show has had a theme eachyear. What is this year’s focus?

RO:Whatwe’re trying to focus on this

year is 1912, because of our [NewMexicostate] centennial.CS:What kind of look would you expect to findin 1912?

RO:By that time, the bustle was going out.You don’t seemuchwith a bustle. So theyare straight-lined, two-piece outfits. Thecolors are brighter [than in the 1800s]. Ofcourse black is always traditional. Blackwasworn to a lot of social events.As amatter of fact, we have another

selectionwe’re going to [present] from 1912to possibly about 1940— a lovely collectionof flapper dresses and lawn dresses. Theyoung girls wouldwear them and haveparasols when theywent to church orpromenaded around the Plaza. They arevery fine cottonwith a lot of lace.We have afew parasols we use in our show.CS: Are there a lot of dressy clothes in thecollection?

RO:Wehave a nice collection of

gownsworn for balls at the Palace of theGovernors. Originals are the only thingweshow; they’re not replicas. Somemembersdecide tomake a replica [from time to time]becausewe are invited once in awhile to alarge eventwherewe don’t want to use our[fragile] originals.The gowns are in a climate-controlled

space, kept individually in boxes.We do useacid-free tissue paper [for packing] becausethematerials have no synthetics in them.That’s whywe’ve been fortunate to be ableto preserve them. It’s just amazing, someof themdon’t have a single flaw. Even now,when themodels pick up these dresses, thefirst thingwe say is, “Air them out. They’vebeen in storage. Do not have them cleaned,do not do anything to them. You can pressthem very carefully, or steam them.”CS: So they were like formal evening wraps?

RO:Formal wrapswornwith gowns.CS:What other kinds of shawls are in the

Clothesmake thewomanAntique garments shine a light on the past

1889 Ball Gownworn by Roxanne Ortega 1880 Two-piece gown owned by CleofasJaramillo, worn by Julia Gomez

1912 Summer lawn dress worn by RobertaMiller and AriellaMiller


collection?RO:Wedo have shawls that wereworn

over heads. They’re totally black. Thosewereworn by the olderwomen [or] if therewas a death in the family. They continuedtowear them till theywere very, very oldwomen. Theywore them everywhere.I remember as a teenager seeing themdowntown. Verywonderfulmaterials withvery long black tassels, but very plain. Youdidn’t see youngerwomenwearing them,and certainly not to balls.CS:Was Santa Fe isolated, fashion-wise, atleast in the late 1800s?

RO:No. Itmight take forever, but thewagonswere coming from theMidwestand some of the people from back Eastwould order their gowns direct. Theywouldhave their clothes brought in ormade byseamstresses calledmodistas.We can seethe beautiful work that these seamstressesdid. A lot of it is handwork.CS:How did the Modas y Merienda custombegin?

RO:We’re probably into our 75th year.Mrs. Jaramillo, the founder [of La SociedadFolklórica], had visited somewhere in the

southern part of the country, one of thosesouthern cities— she traveled quite a bit,her husbandwas very involved in politicsin the state of NewMexico. She attendedan eventwhere theywere showing some ofthe beautiful dresses that wereworn in [thepast]. She came back and got some friendstogether and said, “Let’s do that.”CS: Are period clothes smaller than clothingtoday?

RO:Absolutely. Theywere all very smallwomen, a lot of very tall women, but [with]small, slenderwaists. Today,many ofour dresses have to beworn by teenagersstarting at [age] 14 or 15.We have beenvery fortunate that we do findmodels tofit our dresses.We first workwith ourmembers and their relatives— daughtersgranddaughters, nieces, are asked first.Thenwe have guestmodels.CS:Domen get to take part in the program?

RO:Wehave a great collection ofmen’stuxedos plus coats theywouldwearwith acravat. Theywere longer coats, very ornate,with trimming.We also have somemilitaryuniforms.We have one from the 1800sin excellent condition.We do have a lot

of trouble finding [male]models.We usejunior high or lower grades of high school.We’re lucky to find three or four. Again, themenwere smaller boned [than now]. Theywere not large [but] theywere tall.Last year, we had a very excellent show.

We ended upwith five or six youngmen.We couldn’t fit them all with tuxedos to beescorts for our youngwomen butwe showedthem themilitary uniforms and they lovedthem, so theywore them.

DetailsWHAT: Exhibicion de Modas yMerienda presented by La SociedadFolklórica; fashion show followed byreception

WHEN: 3 p.m. Saturday, September 8

WHERE: James A. Little Theater (onthe campus of the NewMexico Schoolfor the Deaf), 1060 Cerrillos Road,Santa Fe

TICKETS: $8 per person, at the door

1912 Summer lawn dress worn by JoleneGonzales

1886 Evening wear 1886 Three 19th-century gownsCourtesy photos


By Craig Smith

Fiesta de Santa Fe is a time toremember and celebrate the past.StateHistorian RickHendrickswill do just that in a Fiesta lectureon September 5 at theNewMexicoHistoryMuseum.His talk, titled IWasGodfather to Them: Diego deVargas and the Reconquest of NewMexico,will explore howVargas’political acumen and religious faithconverged to support the successfulreconquest of Santa Fe in 1692-93.“What I’ve chosen formy topic thisyear is Vargas’ use of compradazgo(godparenthood),” saidHendricks. “Sowe’ll be looking at the relationships hewasestablishingwith Pueblo leaders and theirchildren through this idea. Basically whathappenedwas [that] Vargaswould identifythe individuals in a given Pueblo he thoughtwere the leaders, and hewould stand as thegodfather to their children.”Therewere doubtlessmany of them,

too— childrenwho had been born in theyears between the Pueblo Revolt of 1680,when the Spanish left Santa Fe, and therecolonization in 1693.The Franciscans who accompanied

Vargas were ready to administer thesacrament to every unbaptized child in theregion— from babies to teens. But RomanCatholic practice required baptismalcandidates had to have at least onegodparent.

“So as part of this process ofrecolonization,” Hendricks explained,“[Vargas] would stand as the godfatherto these children. By doing that as a goodRomanCatholic, whichwe know that hewas, hewas carrying out a role that was verytypical of communities in theNewWorld,[establishing] what the anthropologists calla fictive kinship relationship, [one] that’snot a blood relationship, not amarriagerelationship. It was one of the glues thatheld Spanish communities together [and]would have been familiar to Vargas from asocietal background.”There was a similar custom in Pueblo

culture already, Hendricks pointedout, oftentimes arising through femalecaregivers. So “this idea of someone havinga special sort of sponsorship or caregivingarrangement is something that would’vebeen understandable to the Pueblo cultureas well.“Did he knowwhat hewas tapping into?”

Hendricksmused. “I have no idea. It couldbe that hewas aware that these kind ofrelationships existed. Did he correctlyidentify who the leaders of the Pueblowere?Onmany occasions, he probably didn’t —he’d identify the individual who had beendesignated by the Pueblo to deal withoutside people. But I suspect he probablywasn’t connectingwith the religious leadersof the community.”

Alliances critical to successBy establishing godparent relationships,and using such diplomatic tools as sharingchocolatewith leaders, Vargaswas

TheGodfather,circa 1692HowDiego de Vargas used compradazgo to reconquerand recolonize Santa Fe

Rick Hendricks

Photo Blair Clark, NMhM/DCa.Artist Julio Barrera’s copy of a Spanishpainting of Don Diego José de Vargas Zapatay Luiján Ponce de León y Contreras.


practicing one of the oldestmilitary tacticsknown to humanity: divide and conquer.AsHendricks noted, “He seemed to be

aiding peoplewhowould ally themselveswith the Spaniards, and in a sense co-optingthem into that role. And then theywould beused as allied troopswhen he confronted agroup that was resistant to the Spanish.

“This was not unique to Spain or toVargas. But he saw himself — andwe knowthis from [historic] documents— as alatter-day Cortez [the Spanish conquistadorwho defeated the Aztec Empire]. This issomething Cortez had done very effectivelywhen hewas battling the people ofTenochtitlan. As hewasmoving from thecoast fromVeracruz inland into the valley ofMexico, he found that subject peoples of theAztecswere quite willing to ally themselveswith the Spaniards and fight against theAztecs. AndVargasmademany referencesto Oñate andCortez, and saw himselfsomewhat as a new conquistador.”“It would be cynical ofme to say that

[compradazgo] was a tactic,” Hendricksadded. “I really think for him it was apersonal thing, and hewas trying to bindthese leaders that he had identified. Butin terms of allies it was absolutely crucial.Thereweren’t enough soldiers on theground for a full-scale battle.”

In fact, during the Reconquest, “in termsof a battle, there really isn’tmuch thathappens. These strategic alliancesmeantbloodshedwas less, and itmeant it wasmuch easier to carry it out.“WhenVargas came in 1692 onwhatwe

call the ceremonial reconquest, when he

tooled around to all the Pueblos saying, ‘OK,we’re back, swear allegiance to the king’— I don’t think at that particularmomentthe Puebloswere really all that concerned.Then he comes back in 1693with people,livestock, wagons— coming back torecolonize. It becomes open resistance,a protractedwar— the fighting doesn’tend until 1696, though it’s not nonstop.But it was a long period and those variousallianceswere very crucial to his success.”A native of North Carolina, Hendricks

took a B.A. in history at theUniversity ofNorth Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Ph.D.in Ibero American Studies at theUniversityof NewMexico in Albuquerque. He alsoattended theUniversity of Seville in Spain.He is a former editor of the Vargas

Project at UNM,whichwas dedicated totranscribing, translating and annotating thegovernor’s papers, and also did scholarlywork and taught at NewMexico StateUniversity. Hendricks haswritten orcollaborated onmany books and articlesabout the Spanish colonial period of theAmerican Southwest andMexico; hismostrecent book isNewMexico in 1801: ThePriests Report, published in 2008 byRioGrande Books.

AMexicoCity rock starVargas’ public position in history is well-known, but what about his private life?Washe a good administrator during his oftenup-and-down tenure?“I think the case of Vargas is rare in that

we have personal documents,” Hendrickssaid. “[For] almost all the other governors,

we have nothing that compares to his lettershome, the personal documents. In those,he shows himself to be verymuch a humanbeing. He grieveswhen his son dies, he’shappywhen his daughtermarries. All thesort of things thatmake us human, he spellsout in his writing. Sowe have a differentview of him.“Hewas certainty considered a good

administrator in his posts before cominghere.” And, “whenword reachedMexicoCitythat he had conqueredNewMexico, theyilluminated the cathedral. Itwas a huge deal.Itwas so rare for Spaniards to be driven outof an area they had been in such a long time.Itwasn’t unknown, but itwas rare.“I imagine hewas a rock star ofMexico

City for awhile since he had pulled it off.”

DetailsWhat: I Was Godfather toThem: Diego de Vargas and theReconquest of New Mexico, the2012 Fiesta lecture by New MexicoState Historian Rick Hendricks

Where: NewMexico HistoryMuseum, 113 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe

When: 6 p.m. Wednesday,September 5

Tickets: Free admission to membersof the Palace Guard; $5 for non-members, at the door.Limited seating. For moreinformation, call 476-5200 or visitwww.museumofnewmexico.org/calendar.php?month=09

“I think the case of Vargas is rare in that we have personal documents,” Hendricks said.“[For] almost all the other governors, we have nothing that compares to his letters home, the

personal documents. In those, he shows himself to be verymuch a human being.


What’s almost 50 feet tall, weighs four-fifths of a ton, groans like a giant bansheeand is bad news personified? Zozobra, ofcourse— the giant puppet that Santa Feanslove to hate: OldManGloomhimself.Every year on the Thursday following

Labor Day, just before the Santa Fe Fiesta,themonolithicmonster appears at FortMarcy Park. As dusk begins to fall, peoplestream into the viewing areas to the soundof bands playing, to share a special rite ofpassage. In 2011, more than 23,000 peoplewere there to see him come— and go.As night begins to gather in, the beast

starts tomove andmoan, a group oflittle Gloomies prance around him anda fire dancer taunts and tantalizes him.Big Z’s voice grows louder, but is soonoverwhelmed by the crowd’s murmuringchant that quickly rises to a roar: “Burnhim!”And then, whoosh! Fireworks erupt,

flames flicker and crawl up the beast’sbody, and Zozobra goes up in smoke andfire, screeching and bellowing to the last.And a year’s worth of gloom, bad luck,sorrow and unhappymemories gowithhim— everything frompaid-offmortgagesand unluckywedding dresses to bad reportcards, from jewelry and photo albums toold bills. You name it, and it’s probably beentucked one year or another into theGloomBox that ends up as floating ash.Zozobra got his start in 1924, when artist

Will Shuster burnt a puppet called OldManGrouch in his yard at Fiesta time. Two yearslater,NewMexican editor Dana Johnsoncame upwith the name Zozobra for thecreature—meaning gloom or unease inSpanish— and a once-private ritual beganto become a public institution.Shuster kept his hand in the celebratory

burning until 1964, when he passedresponsibility on to theKiwanis Club,which continues to conceptualize, make,decorate, and destroy Z-Man to this day. Hisingredients include, according to zozobra.com, wire, unbleachedmuslin, poultrynetting, wood, nails, screws, plywood,

pulleys, shredded paper, spray paint, ducttape – and pizza pans.This year, the venerable ceremony takes

place Thursday, September 6. The gatesopen at 3 p.m.— and bewarned: peopledon’tmind queuing up early to get a front-row place to observe Zozobra’s torture.Entertainment begins at 3:30 p.m. Thebands performing this year include Sol Fire,La Junta,Mariachi Buenaventura andTestTube Panda.General admission is $20 at the gate;

children under 42 inches tall get in for$10. Foodmay be brought into the venueas well as bought from themany vendorson site. Don’t forget that roads are closedwithin a four-block radius, so you’ll needto walk to the site from downtown. A park-and-ride program operates from bus linelocations and the Rail Runner. For a fulllist of regulations and information, visitzozobra.com.

— Craig Smith

Long liveZozobra!Well, not quite … Details

TickeTsthe burning of Will Shuster’s Zozobratakes place at dusk on thursday, Sept. 6,at Fort marcy Park.tickets are available Sept. 1-3 from 9a.m.-4 p.m. at the Zozobra booth on thePlaza, during the Fiesta Labor Day artsand Crafts Fair. they also are availableSept. 4 & 5 at offices of the StateEmployees Credit Union and guadalupeCredit Union, during regular businesshours. all tickets sold at these outletsare $20.tickets are also available at the gate theday of event, beginning at 3 p.m. at thistime only, children 42 inches tall andunder are admitted for $10. all othertickets are $20.

GeTTinG ThereDon’t forget — you can ride the Newmexico rain runner Express to andfrom Zozobra. the last train, whichusually leaves downtown at 9 p.m., willbe leaving at 11 p.m. the night Zozobraburns.

BusesSanta Fe trails will run its usual routesfrom Santa Fe Place into Sheridantransit Center on thursday (Sept. 6)for the burning of Zozobra. two extrabuses will take passengers beginning at5:45 p.m. from South Capitol Station,off Cordova and Pen road, to Sheridancontinuously throughout the evening.South Capitol Station is the best placeto park to have a free ride and no-hasslefree parking.Last buses— final pickup—will leaveSheridan Street at 10:30 p.m. to getpassengers back to South CapitolStation and Santa Fe Place.

handicap parkinGhandicap parking is accessible throughthe entrance to the recreationalComplex at magers Field at theintersection of Bishops Lodge road andartist road. Forty spaces are reservedand available on a first-come, first-served basis. gates open at 3 p.m. anyvehicle requesting handicap Parkingcan enter through this main gate from3 p.m. until the road closes at 6 p.m.the vehicle must display a State of Newmexico-issued handicap parking permitand everyone in the vehicle must havean event ticket.

Natalie GuillÉNZozobra 2011

2012 FIESTA de SANTA FE 21


through Sept. 9FiestaMelodramavarious times, The Santa Fe Playhouse,142 E. DeVargas St., $20 general admission,$15 seniors/students/teachers/military, $10Thursday and Late Night shows, call 988-4262.

Sept. 1-3 Saturday, Sunday&Monday

Fiesta Fine arts and CraftsMarket9 a.m.- 5 p.m. (Labor DayWeekend),Santa Fe Plaza.

Sept. 2 SundayMariachi extravaganza de Santa Fe7:30 p.m. Santa Fe Opera,301 Opera Drive, Tickets 986-5900.

Sept. 4 tueSdaySpecial City Council Meeting4-6 p.m.City Council Chambers200 Lincoln Ave.

Sept. 5 WedneSdayConcierto deMariachiMatinees10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Lensic Performing ArtsCenter, 211 W. San Francisco St., $5, contactTickets Santa Fe, 988-1234.

historical Fiesta Lecture with State historianrick hendricks6 p.m.NewMexico History Museum,113 Lincoln Ave., free to members of PalaceGuard, $5 non-members at the door.Seating is limited.

Sept. 6 thurSdayBurning of Zozobra3-11 p.m. Fort Marcy Park, $20.

Official schedule300th Fiesta de Santa Fe

PLAZA

Paseo

Griffi

nStreet

Marcy Street

GrantAvenue

Sheridan

Lincoln

WashingtonAvenue

Otero

Cienega

Palace AvenueSan Francisco Street

Water Street

Cathedral

ShelbyStreet

de

Peralta

Start/Finish

(La Residencia

Parking Lot)

Registration

(Desfile de los Niños)Children’s Pet ParadeDesfile de los Niños

Children’s Pet Parade

PLAZA

Paseo

WashingtonAvenue

Palace Avenue

San Francisco Street

Alameda Street

de

Peralta

SandovalStreet

GuadalupeStre

et

DeVargas Center

Start

Finish

Historical/Hysterical Parade

(Desfile de la Gente)

Historical/HystericalParade

Desfile de la Gente

Sept. 7-9 Friday, Saturday& SundayFine arts and CraftsMarket & Food BoothsFiesta9 a.m.-5 p.m. Santa Fe Plaza.

Sept. 7 Fridaypregón de la Fiesta6 a.m. Rosario Chapel, 540 Rosario Blvd., Free.

City, County and State official opening ofFiestanoon Santa Fe Plaza.

entrada de dondiego de Vargas2 p.m. Santa Fe Plaza.

Sept. 8 Saturdaydesfile de Los niños (Pet Parade)9 a.m. around the Plaza.LaMerienda (Fashion Show)3 p.m. James A. Little Theater, NewMexicoSchool for the Deaf, 1060 Cerrillos Road, $8per person at the door.

gran Baile7:30 p.m. Santa Fe Community ConventionCenter, 201 W. Marcy St., $15, contact TicketsSanta Fe, 988-1234.

Sept. 9 SundaySolemn procession9:30 a.m. Palace of the Governors to CathedralBasilica of St. Francis of Assisi.

pontifical Mass10 a.m.Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis ofAssisi.

desfile de la gente (Historical/HystericalParade)12:30 p.m. through downtown. See Route Map.

Closing Ceremonies5:15-6 p.m. Plaza Gazebo.

Mass of thanksgiving and Candlelightprocession7 p.m.Mass of Thanksgiving at the CathedralBasilica of St. Francis of Assisi, followed by theprocession to the Cross of the Martyrs.

Gene PeachCandlelight procession to the Cross of theMartyrs

Gene Peachpet parade

Mariachi traditional


Z-23

www.secunm.org505-983-7328 -OR- 800-983-7328

Not just for State Employees

Happy 300th Fiesta Santa Fe!Have fun and be safe this Fiesta Season.A special thanks to our HR Director, 2012 FiestaPresident Debbie Sparks and our staff that helpedput it all together.

Maria Debbie SparksDiana JessicaRustine

Plaza Mercado • 112 W. San Francisco St.Suite 212-C • 982-9373

Featuring quality toys and games fromfair-labor manufacturers in America, Europe

and ports around the world.

Monday - Thursday 10 - 5ishFriday & Saturday 10 - 5:30ish

Sunday 12 - 4ish

24 2012 FIESTA de SANTA FE

fiestas 2012

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