MANSFIELD, Ohio – Snow Trails Winter Resort lit a fire to welcome the coming winter Saturday night on the slope behind the Snowflake Loft.
The massive bonfire was the main attraction of the resort’s eighth annual “Zozo Party,” a fun-spirited get-together centered on lighting an effigy of a ghostly beast named Zozobra, also known as Old Man Gloom, and paying homage to Ullr, an old Germanic god often associated with snow in many mythologies.
Snow Trails General Manager Scott Crislip said the party represents the beginning of the ski season.
“It’s a tradition that started at Snow Trails many years ago – a local ski club had started it,” he said. “It kind of faded away, but eight years ago, we resurrected it.”
Zozobra was the inspiration of Santé Fe, New Mexico, artist Will Shuster, who originiated the ritual in 1924.
It is said as the fire consumes the beast “so go the feelings of gloom and doom from the past year” with the flames renewing the hope and optimism of those gathered, according to burnzozobra.com.
This year’s effigy was approximately 14 feet tall and stood 30 feet above the ground. It was lit just before 8 p.m.
Crislip said Snow Trails’ version of a Zozo Party is a kind of mashup of two different rituals.
“We kind of morphed the two (celebrations) with the snow god and the Zozobra,” Crislip said. “Zozobra is the god of gloom, and you’re supposed to write down all your troubles and worries from this year and then burn them in the fire.”
According to some mythologies, the change in the climate causes Ullr to awaken from his summer slumber.
As part of Snow Trails’ tradition, the only way to appease Ullr and ensure cold weather and bountiful snow is to burn the effigy.
“Most of us haven’t seen each other since the close of last season, so it’s just a good time to get together,” Crislip said.
The celebration has gotten big enough during the past years that the resort opted to separate it from its Ski Patrol Swap Weekend, when it typically was held.
During the party, patrons enjoyed food and drink before, during, and after the lighting of the effigy, while Blacksphere, a central Ohio rock band, hit the stage in the loft at 9 p.m.
“It’s that time of year when people are starting to get excited about skiing and this is part of getting them excited,” Crislip said. “Again, it’s been a long summer, everybody has gotten through their fall time, and they’re getting geared up for winter.”
Snow Trails’ Kickoff Party for the 2015-16 Winter Season is set for Dec. 12 in the Snowflake Loft.
