By~ Katie, Sophia & Sasha Night of the Radishes By~ Katie, Sophia & Sasha

Where is it celebrated? ~Night of the Radishes, Oaxaca, Mexico.

Meaning of Night of the Radishes English: Night of the radishes Spanish:Noche de los rábanos

Why Radishes? ~ The radish is not native to Oaxaca. The Spanish brought them to Oaxaca in the 16th century and the Spanish monks encouraged the locals to grow them. In order to promote the new vegetable, one of the monks suggested carving radishes to create eye-catching displays in the market. Centuries later in 1897, Oaxaca Mayor, Francisco Vasconcelos Flores, held the first Noche de Rábanos in the zócalo. The event has been held every year since.

Facts about Oaxaca, Mexico ~ Mexico is home to a very rare rabbit called the volcano rabbit which lives near Mexican volcanoes. ~ Oaxaca is known as “The Land of the Seven Moles.” ~ The name of the state, Oaxaca, comes from the name of its capital. The name comes from the Nahuatl, “Huaxyacac”, which refers to a tree. ~ Millions of monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico every year from the U.S. and Canada. ~ Mexican food history shows that Mexico has given chocolate to the world, as well as several other specialties, including peanuts, vanilla, beans, coconuts and tomatoes.

Why is it an event? ~Dedicated to the carving of oversized radishes to create scenes that compete for prizes in various categories.

When does it take place? ~ Night of the Radishes takes place on December 23rd in the Main Plaza in Oaxaca City, Mexico.

What takes place and how is it celebrated? Nobody really knows how this festival started, although it is believed to have originated in 1897, when the then mayor of the city started the first display of radish art. For the last century, markets during Christmas eve sold salt-dried fish and vegetables for customers coming out of the midnight mass. To mark the items from one another, vendors sculpted their radishes into tiny figures, sometimes even decorating them with other vegetables such as onions or lettuce. The radishes seemed to be a hit with the housewives then, as these women needed to make the most interesting sculptures to add to the air of cheer to their Christmas tables. Every year since the first display, the best displays receive cash prizes. This event manages to attract thousands of spectators every year, the event builds up from about a week before with local events organized and artists keeping their radishes fresh by spraying them with water.

Types of Food in Oaxaca, Mexico ~ The food of the fiesta is buñuelos, deep fried pastries drenched in piloncillo (Mexican unrefined brown sugar) syrup and cinnamon. Afterward it is considered good luck to break the clay dish it was served in by hurling it to the ground.

Facts about Night of the Radishes ~ The event is the Night of the Radishes, one of the most unusual folk art competitions in all of Mexico. Already the line of eager viewers is long, and the judges are ready. Dozens of booths display carvings representing animals, saints, dancers, cathedrals, the Virgin Mary, nearly anything that might arise from the fertile imaginations of the creators. The stakes are high. The winner takes home 12,000 pesos and gets his picture in the morning paper.

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