The Night of the Radishes – Oaxaca’s Bizarre Carving Festival

Every year on December 23rd, while the rest of the world is busy wrapping presents and scrambling for last-minute shopping, something wonderfully weird takes over the central square of Oaxaca City. It's called La Noche de los Rábanos — the Night of the Radishes — and it’s exactly what it sounds like… only way stranger.

This is not a joke. This is a real, official, government-sponsored festival where people carve **giant radishes** into everything from nativity scenes to dragons to revolutionaries. It's surreal, short-lived (the veggies wilt fast), and absolutely mesmerizing. Welcome to one of Mexico’s most delightfully odd traditions.

Where Did This Come From?

Like many strange and beautiful things in Mexico, this tradition has deep roots. Back in the colonial era, Spanish monks encouraged locals to grow vegetables, including radishes. Over time, the radishes got... weird. Some grew into twisted, humanoid shapes. Vendors began carving and arranging them to attract customers at the holiday market. By the late 1800s, the city of Oaxaca said, “Let’s make this a thing.”

And so it became a thing. A **very big thing**.

So What Exactly Happens?

Each year, dozens of artists — yes, radish artists — sign up to compete in one of the wildest sculpture contests on earth. The city grows a special crop of oversized radishes (some as long as your forearm!) just for this event. Participants receive bundles of the produce and, with knives and toothpicks, they begin crafting miniature worlds.

It’s not just a few veggie animals here and there. We’re talking entire dioramas of saints, wrestlers, skeletons, musicians, and even political satire — all carved from bright red radishes. The level of detail is astounding… and it all happens in just a few hours before the festival opens to the public.

It’s Crowded, Colorful, and Completely Bananas

By evening, crowds fill the zócalo (main plaza), music echoes through the air, and lines stretch for blocks to get a glimpse of the displays. There are lights, food vendors, fireworks, and plenty of mezcal to keep things festive. Awards are handed out in categories like "Traditional," "Free Form," and "Children's Division."

And the sculptures? They’re only viewable that night. The next morning, most are compost — wilted, shriveled relics of a moment that lived fast and died in glory.

Why Radishes, Though?

Good question. Part of the charm of La Noche de los Rábanos is that there’s no other festival quite like it. Sure, other places carve pumpkins, ice, sand… but **radishes**? In a Catholic city? During Christmas? It shouldn’t work. And yet, it absolutely does.

The radish becomes a canvas for folk art, storytelling, and sometimes biting satire. It’s a way for the people of Oaxaca to express their creativity, their heritage, and their quirky sense of humor — all while celebrating the holidays in a very non-commercial, community-driven way.

Want to Go?

If you plan to visit Oaxaca in December, be sure to arrive early. The event happens on the evening of December 23rd and lasts only one night. Go in the late afternoon to catch the artists at work and stay into the evening for the full effect. Bring a camera, patience, and a willingness to be charmed by the unexpected.

Final Thoughts

In a world of polished holiday pageantry, the Night of the Radishes feels like a rebellious vegetable poem. It's fleeting. It's festive. It's bizarre. And it reminds us that sometimes, joy comes in strange forms — like a holy nativity carved into a root vegetable.

So if you ever find yourself in southern Mexico at Christmastime, skip the mall, skip the eggnog… and go see what the radishes are up to. You won't regret it.

Tags: Mexico, Night of the Radishes, Oaxaca, Festival, Radish Carving, Unusual Tradition