Night of the Radishes (Oaxaca, Mexico)
The Night of the Radishes, or La Noche de los Rabanos, is an annual festival celebrated on December 23 in Oaxaca, Mexico. This vibrant event showcases the artistic talents of local artisans who create intricate sculptures from large, uniquely shaped radishes, often exceeding 50 centimeters in length. Rooted in the 16th century when Spanish colonists introduced radishes to Mexico, the festival began as a competition encouraged by Dominican friars. It became an official event in 1897, evolving into a colorful celebration held in the city’s main square, the zócalo.
During the festival, the radishes, which are now grown using fertilizers and chemicals, are displayed in various imaginative forms, including nativity scenes, flowers, and even extraterrestrial beings. Artists compete for a grand cash prize, fostering a spirited and creative atmosphere. The event attracts both locals and tourists, who enjoy not only the artistic displays but also traditional foods like buñuelos, with a customs element where smashed plates are believed to bring good luck for the coming year. The festivities culminate in a spectacular fireworks show, making the Night of the Radishes a unique cultural experience in Oaxaca.
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Night of the Radishes (Oaxaca, Mexico)
Night of the Radishes (Oaxaca, Mexico)
On December 23 of each year, the city of Oaxaca, Mexico, holds the colorful festival La Noche de los Rabanos, or Night of the Radishes. For a few hours during the evening, the marketplace of the zócalo, or plaza, fills with people, as skilled artisans with the unique ability to create elaborate scenes and figures out of the large, deformed radishes that grow in the area compete for a grand prize and local fame.
The Night of the Radishes has its roots in the sixteenth century, when Spanish colonists first brought radishes to Mexico. Dominican friars who established missions in the Oaxaca region began holding garden contests for the local native population and suggested that they carve the radishes, which sometimes grew as long as a child's arm, into various shapes. At that time, the radishes were cultivated in the village of Trinidad de las Huertas, and the first display of the radish figures probably took place there at the Christmas Vigil market on December 23 sometime after 1563. In 1897 the mayor of Oaxaca, Francisco Vasconcelos Flores, declared the exhibition a formal, annual event to be held at the zócalo.
Today, the radishes, which often grow as long as 50 centimeters and sometimes considerably larger, are nourished with chemicals and fertilizers, making them unsafe for human consumption. They are cultivated near El Tequio Park, close to the city's airport, and at other towns, such as San Antonio Castillo Velasco. Over the years the local government took closer control of the growing and distribution of the radishes to ensure fair competition. The radishes are harvested on December 18, at which time they are delivered to the artists, who carve them into a variety of shapes, from flowers and expressive nativity figures to saints and extraterrestrials. Each artist receives a stipend for entering the often heated competition, which earns the winner a cash grand prize, which by the late 2010s stood at 30,000 pesos (approximately US $1,500).
The verbena, or night festival, is held in the Plaza de la Constitución at the center of Oaxaca. It draws large crowds of tourists and locals who enjoy the exhibits and the food, including bunuelos (puffy fritters covered in syrup). The plates from the bunuelos are smashed afterward, and the more broken pieces that result, the greater one's luck is supposed to be in the coming year. The festivities conclude with an elaborate fireworks show.
Bibliography
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Galloway, Lindsey. "Mexico's Whimsical Night of the Radishes." BBC, 22 Dec. 2014, www.bbc.com/travel/story/20141217-mexicos-whimsical-night-of-the-radishes. Accessed 14 Apr. 2020.
Nalewicki, Jennifer. "Why Radish Carving Has Become a Popular Holiday Event in Oaxaca." Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Dec. 2018, www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/why-radish-carving-has-become-popular-holiday-event-oaxaca-180971096/. Accessed 14 Apr. 2020.
Rigg, Susannah. "Inside Oaxaca's Radish-Carving Festival." CNN Travel, 15 Jan. 2018, www.cnn.com/travel/article/radish-carving-festival-oaxaca-mexico/index.html. Accessed 14 Apr. 2020.
Yair, Mario. "Night of the Radishes." Atlas Obscura, www.atlasobscura.com/foods/night-of-the-radishes-carving-festival. Accessed 14 Apr. 2020.