If the American Halloween season uses pumpkins to decorate, in Mexico, people hold the Oaxaca Radish Festival at Christmas to create a joyful atmosphere, bustling with beautiful sculptures. made from radish.
During the Christmas holidays in Mexico, people not only welcome the joyful and eager atmosphere with the special and interesting art performances, but in addition, the people here also attend the Oaxaca Radish Festival Colorful mixed with the excitement of admiring many unique artistic sculptures made from radish.
Origins of the Mexican Oxaca Radish Festival
The origin of the Oxaca Radish Festival is currently not clear. However, according to historical records, the Spanish brought radishes and various vegetables to Mexico in the sixteenth century. And the two monks encouraged the local people to grow vegetables for their daily life as well as business. Since then, a monk came up with the idea of using radishes to sculpt funny, unique shapes to stimulate the shopping needs of customers.
Over the past 3 centuries in 1897, the mayor of Oaxaca has formalized the art of radish sculpture into an annual traditional festival. And every year December 23, Mexicans are eager to attend the turnip festival every year for Christmas. It is also the traditional cultural beauty of the city of Oaxaca in particular and Mexico in general.
What is special about the Mexican Oxaca Radish Festival?
Mexican Oaxaca Radish Festival always knows how to attract tourists to visit because the radish trees have been carved vividly and skillfully through the talented hands of the artisan to create unique models. Attractive with many different designs such as: bible, animal or many other objects related to Christmas, looking very beautiful and very delicate.
At first, radishes were only sculpted with decorative items and created simple and simple peasants. But when the area of the city of Oaxaca was shrunk by tall buildings, it meant less turnip land. Therefore, the local government has reserved a turnip growing area near Tequio Park.
The purpose of the radish festival takes place to preserve the traditional cultural beauty of Oaxaca, Mexico. And in order for the festival to attract people to participate, the organizers launched a radish sculpture contest with a Christmas theme. Most of the carvings participating in the contest are mainly carved by players with pictures of animals, people, food or crafts. Other engravings such as monsters, tiny people, snowmen are also made from radishes, but it requires creators to be creative, artistic eyes to create excellent works.
To sculpt the works of art from radish, the artist often uses knives and chopsticks to carve the image he wants to create. Although the technique of carving on radish is similar to carving on wood, the festival does not attract professional sculptors to participate because the use of sculpture materials is very different.
The Oaxaca Mexico Radish Festival always attracts more than 100 artisans from all over the world to participate. Especially those who live in the city of Oaxaca and San Antonino Castillo Velasco. To attend the sculpture festival, players will have to register in advance and from December 18, the player must plan his other sculpture. The sculptures will be categorized by traditional or liberal theme.
Each prize is worth up to 15,000 pesos (over 60 million VND) and will be given to the winner. The prizes for children from 6 to 17 years old will be bicycles and school supplies to encourage younger generations to keep and continue their fathers' beautiful traditions, cultures, and festivals .
Besides the sculptures made from radish material, people also add a few other ingredients such as dried corn kernels or dried flowers to make the festival colors more lively and attractive.
The radish festival usually does not last for more than an hour, because the radish can spoil easily after being cut. Therefore, the booths will gather in front of the central square during the event and will be dismantled the next morning after the event ends.
The turnip festival in Oaxaca Mexico is held in the evening, and participants will be allowed to walk inside the stalls after the sculptures are on display. Around 9 pm, the winners will be held.
Because of the unique and attractive when the products are sculpted from radishes, the radish festival attracts hundreds of sculptors and thousands of visitors to visit, including State Governor . And guests who book tickets to attend the event will have to wait 4-5 hours to join the ceremony.
And if you are interested and curious about the Oaxaca radish festival and want to experience the excitement of the Christmas season in beautiful Mexico, then plan with your family or friends. .
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