_{Photo © Suzanne Barbezat}

There's a special festival that takes place every December 23rd in the city of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. It is said to have originated in the market of the Vigilia de Navidad, (Vigil of Christmas) which took place on the night before Christmas eve. Vendors in the market would create attractive and creative displays to attract clients to their stall. Radishes were carved and assembled to create figures and scenes, generally with a Christmas theme. In 1897 the mayor of the city organized the first formal exposition in which the curiously carved radishes were displayed for the public to enjoy. The custom was later formalized and turned into a contest. Nowadays a cash prize is awarded to the three best entries in the different categories: radish, totmoxtle (corn husk), and flor immortal (dried flowers).

See more photos of Oaxaca's Radish Festival, or learn about more Mexican Christmas traditions.