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December 23 • Oaxaca, Mexico

Night of the Radishes

Known in Spanish as 'Noche de Rábanos', this is a unique festival in Oaxaca, Mexico, where people carve giant radishes into elaborate scenes, from religious stories to local wildlife. It started in 1897 as a way for farmers to attract customers to their Christmas market stalls. Today we're debating vegetable art—is this the most creative festival on earth, or just a waste of perfectly good food? We explore the magic of oaxaca.

Night of the Radishes Lesson Visual

Speaking Discussion

  • Why do humans feel the need to turn food into art?
  • What is the most unusual material you have ever seen someone use for art?
  • Is a festival better when its art is temporary (like a radish that rots) or permanent?
  • If you had to carve a radish to represent your life, what would it look like?
  • Does a festival need to be ancient to be important, or can a market gimmick become a tradition?

Activity 1: The Radish Artist

You are a Radish Carver. You have 30 seconds to convince a judge that your vegetable sculpture is a masterpiece.

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Debate

Justify your answer in 30 seconds:

  • "Art should always be permanent."
  • "We should never play with our food."
  • "The simplest things can be the most beautiful."