Believe it or not, these large, ugly vegetables are radishes. But they are carved into amazing art pieces, for "THE NIGHT OF THE RADISHES"

	Hundreds of artist take these radishes and transform them into an infinite variety of art pieces. Some are religious, for the Christmas season (many crèches) but many secular as well. These sculptures must be made that day, because the radishes will wilt, so the they must be sprayed constantly to keep them fresh for the viewing. By night time, the Zocalo is filled with thousand of people, lining up to view the sculptures, with lines moving slowly well past midnight. Prizes are given to the most artistic and imaginative. It's an amazing sight!

	On another night, every church in the area presents a procession and float celebrating the Christmas season. They march around town each with a band, creating a wondrous parade, that of course ends up in the Zocalo.   Below, is one of the paraders bringing his bigger than life puppet on a bicycle, and later spinning it in the parade, to make the arms fly out.
	Crèches abound, all over town, in all the churches and many homes, some extremely elaborate. The one at the left is in the Zocalo, and is gazed at constantly by the crowds. One interesting custom in Mexico is that the Baby Jesus does not appear in the manger until Midnight on Christmas Eve. Many take their statues of Baby Jesus to church on Christmas Eve to have them blessed, before they place them in their crèche.

  

See some of the beautiful CRAFTS of Oaxaca Go back to MEXICO Home Page OR Back to the TRAVEL Page To my HOME PAGE