burning men-history of the tradition

meegup · Post by **meegup** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 8:46 pm

I am wondering about the history of the tradition of burning things that look like a person. the history of burning man beyond 1986 on the beach. i became interested in burning man because i learned of its existence shortly after seeing the burning of zozobra in santa fe, nm.
in santa fe they burn a (30? 40? 50?) foot tall marionette at the end of summer that is "old man gloom" or zozobra. hundreds or thousands gather to watch, there are fireworks and fire dancers etc. has been going on since 1924. ive also heard anecdotally of similar rituals in celtic cultures much further in the past, but im more interested in the history of this tradition in america, leading up to black rock city.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:46 am

IS there a history in America leading up to Burning man? All of the fire-ritual traditions that I've ever heard of came from Europe. There's a biggie in Spain, and the Celtic Wicker Man....The Mexican tradition is a probable Spanish import. The lone exception that comes to mind is the Potlatch, a native American celebration in which a portion of one's material wealth is burned. But not in a humanoid configuration. An interesting research topic! Be sure to publish your findings here!

meegup · Post by **meegup** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 11:24 am

yeah all ive been able to find out about as far as american predecessors to burning man is zozobra...and its quite a predecessor...over 80 years of zozobra so far.

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 12:16 pm

Everybody knows Larry ripped off this movie:

http://www.steve-p.org/wm/

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 12:24 pm

Don't you think it's time somebody made one of those on the playa?

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 12:30 pm

Here's some Zozobra info....looks like a good time!

http://www.zozobra.com/history.html

....and he's a Marionette!!! All "ours" does is rotate sporadically and raise his arms....(and then drop one.)

EricMagic · Post by **EricMagic** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 8:05 pm

robotland wrote:Here's some Zozobra info....looks like a good time!

http://www.zozobra.com/history.html

....and he's a Marionette!!! All "ours" does is rotate sporadically and raise his arms....(and then drop one.)

Well, the overall scene and activity of Zozobra looks nice, but it does not seem as interesting as Burning Man. However, it is a good tradition that seems to be one root of the Burning Man tradition. And, it seems that the Burning Man event is helping to even extend various traditions and ideas of meanings behind several different events of burning either an effigy or possibly a sacrifice, or just a way to complete an thought with action.

One nice touch to the underlying culture of Burning Man, is in the way anyone can interpret what the actually burning of the Burning Man means, or what is represents is profound, and it adds to the mystic nature of the event, and some other nice touches include that the event really lasts a week, a (pseudo) gift-economy, self sufficiency in the desert, basically remote location, plethora of art, encouraging of participation, and creating intense thoughts and flames.

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 8:47 pm

Don't you think it's time somebody made one of those on the playa?

Forget the cow fuel.

Insert (MOOPy) ravers.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 8:14 am

robotland wrote:Don't you think it's time somebody made one of those on the playa?

~
This would be the year. You know, basket weaving every day. Ha ha there coming to take me away he he

.
p.s. that was 1960's top hit for awhile.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 5:13 am

Burning a three-story tall macrame' plant holder would be therapeutic, too.

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 2:23 pm

Salvador Dali once said:
"All that does not stem from tradition, is plagiarism."

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 9:32 am

and Dali would know...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:41 pm

FWIW

Every 5th November in England, (AKA bonfire night) an effigy of Guy Fawkes is burnt on top of a giant bonfire and has been done for 100's of years. In 1605 Guy Fawkes and a handful of others tried and failed to blow up the Houses of Parliament using gunpowder.

Apparently this practice continued on to British Colonies in America.

Apollonaris Zeus · Post by **Apollonaris Zeus** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 7:56 am

[quote="meegup"]I am wondering about the history of the tradition of burning things that look like a person. quote]

as long as its the President, sure that fine.

But if its me. No!

AIIZ

burning men-history of the tradition

burning men-history of the tradition

Interesting Past Traditions - Extensions by Burning Man

Re: burning men-history of the tradition