The Night of the Radishes (Noche de Rábanos) is an annual event on December 23 in Oaxaca, Mexico, where participants carve oversized radishes into scenes for a competition. Introduced to Mexico by the Spanish, radishes were initially used by farmers at the Christmas market in Oaxaca to attract customers. The tradition evolved into a formal competition in 1897, started by Mayor Francisco Vasconcelos.
Carvings often depict traditional Oaxacan scenes, religious themes, and cultural celebrations. The radishes used are specially grown by the government, reaching up to 50 cm in length and 3 kg in weight, and are unsuitable for consumption. Participants, using knives and toothpicks, have only a few hours to create their sculptures due to the radishes' quick wilting.
The event also features competitions for corn husk and dried flower creations. Attracting over 100 contestants and thousands of visitors, the Night of the Radishes has become a significant cultural event despite the limited display time, often resulting in long wait times for viewers.