The Night of Radishes is one of the December celebrations that become a gastronomic and cultural experience; being the perfect reason to visit one of the most wonderful states in Mexico: Oaxaca, but what is it about?
The Night of Radishes is an Oaxacan tradition that began at the end of the 19th century and takes place every December 23.
Tourists and residents have attended it year after year for more than 125 years of history to continue this incredible tradition; here we tell you what it is about.
What is the Night of Radishes and where is the fair in Oaxaca?
The Night of Radishes -or Night of the Radishes- is a traditional contest that takes place every December 23 in the Old Plaza de Armas of the City of Oaxaca.
This festival, which starts at five in the afternoon, is an annual contest in which figures carved from radishes, everlasting flowers and totomoxtle leaves are exhibited.
In turn, local artisans exhibit sculptures made with radishes of dimensions that have reached up to 50 centimeters in length and a weight of up to 3 kilograms.
The creations that are exhibited include representations of human figures, characters, animals, nativity scenes and typical traditions of the region such as the Guelaguetza or the festival of the Virgin of Solitude.
Night of radishes
However, currently, thanks to the presence of new techniques, themes and contemporary artists, it has motivated the municipal organizers to create a free category.
Recently, the event has been enriched with the participation of figures of everlasting flowers and corn leaves.
On the Night of Radishes in Oaxaca, you can find:
Exhibitions of the figures
Music
Food
Fair
Sale of fritters
Trying of regional sweets, ice creams and mezcal
Why is the Night of Radishes celebrated in Oaxaca every December 23?
The first antecedents of the Night of Radishes date back to 1897 when the municipal president of the city of Oaxaca, Don Francisco Vasconcelos, called for the first contest to stimulate the progress of floriculture and horticulture.
In this sense, in the market stalls on Christmas Eve, vegetables, aromatic herbs, flowers, fruits and dried fish were sold, which were consumed at lunch or Christmas dinner.
In this way, seeing that there was a great success of this first approach to the festivity of today, the continuity of the contests was assured.
What is eaten on the Night of Radishes in Oaxaca today, December 23?
On the Night of Radishes, salads are prepared with vegetables grown in Trinidad de las Huertas and along the entire banks of the Atoyac River.
Vegetables are also served with fish; among them, cod, smoked mullet or bobo, among others, seasoned with herbs and spices.
Dinner ends with desserts made with sweets, ice cream, jam and fruits.
Source: sdpnoticias
