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Festivities
"Noche de Rábanos" (Radishes Night) - December 23th
Description
This tradition dates back to colonial times, when missionaries taught natives how to cultivate radishes, which reached extraordinary proportions. This was begun in a small Oaxaca City neighbourhood, known as La Trinidad de las Huertas. Its church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Currently, radishes are grown in San Antonino Castillo Velasco, among other towns.
Considered a special verbena with a strong, popular flavour, the event commemorating radishes is held on the evening of December 23, in Oaxaca City’s Main Square, in front of the Government Palace. A great exhibition of figures made of radishes is on display, much to the delight of the crowd. Figures of animals, humans, saints, and other characters are made using this vegetable only, and the artists are rewarded for their ingenuity and skill. For some time, contests of this nature have been organised, combining the artwork with other vegetables, such as corn leafs, "totomoxtle" and a vegetable known as "Immortal Flower".
The festival, which takes place in the main square, offers a sweet complement: of "buñuelos", a typical Mexican bakery item. They are bathed in a sugary syrup, and sold in commercial stands to one side of the Cathedral. Tradition demands that happy consumers break the dish from which they have just eaten to see what kind of luck the upcoming year has in store for them.
Location
Radish Night is celebrated in the Oaxaca Historical Centre, in the Plaza de la Constitucion (Zócalo).
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