Night of the Radishes - Mexican

Hello! I am a special festival from Mexico. My name is the Night of the Radishes. I am a time for art and fun, when people take big, bumpy radishes and turn them into amazing sculptures. On my special night, artists use little tools to carefully carve the vegetables. They make them into wonderful shapes for everyone to look at. It is a party all about radishes!

People celebrate me every year on December 23rd, just before Christmas. My home is in a city called Oaxaca. Families come together in the big town square, which is called the zócalo. The square is filled with excitement as people walk around to see all the incredible radish sculptures that the artists have created. It is a beautiful sight under the evening lights.

What do the carved radishes look like? They can be almost anything you can imagine! Some look like people who are dancing or musicians playing instruments. Others look like playful animals. Some artists even carve radishes to look like big buildings or to tell stories from a long, long time ago. Making these sculptures is part of a friendly contest to see who has made the most creative one.

I am a night full of imagination, when artists show how a simple vegetable can become a piece of art. Families gather to share the happy sights and enjoy the creative displays. My celebration is a unique and wonderful tradition that makes the holiday season in Oaxaca extra special for everyone who visits the zócalo.