December 2012, Part 2: Radishes

December 23 is another important date in Oaxaca.  The Night of the Radishes finds the zocalo filled with amazing creations all carved from giant radishes by teams of people hoping to win a prize for their imagination, patience and talent.  These photos were taken in the afternoon as the displays were being assembled.

The main dancer is suspended in the air as he jumps,

surrounded by other dancers in the traditional Dance of the Plumes. 

Sing it with him: "I am Don Quijote, the Man of La Mancha!" 

Some of the creations have obvious religious themes and some incorporate other vegetables or plants

There is usually at least one Frida Kahlo themed work, too.  Here she is depicted with wings while other winged beings play near her.  Inspiration? Your guess is as good as mine!

More Christmas trees have been appearing in Oaxaca during the last few years, this is the first we have noticed in radish form.

The skeleton called La Catrina - a Mexican tradition

What do you think this is?  I have no idea but I like it.

December 2012 Part One: Mustaches

We arrived in Oaxaca a few days before December 12, the day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  The beloved protector of Mexico is celebrated for a few days with fireworks, a large carnival set up in the park next to the church of Guadalupe and the visitation by a great many little children dressed in their traditional trajes if they are girls, or dressed as Juan Diego, the peasant to whom La Morena showed herself and left her image on his shawl.

The little guys all sport hand drawn mustaches which wear off as the day goes on and eating, playing and nursing all take their toll.

The children wait in a very long line that winds through the church, where they are blessed by the priest, then out into the courtyard of the church where they offer their gifts of fresh vegetables, flowers and candles in front of the statue displayed there.

If the children are big enough they will often kiss the statue, but sometimes the parents or grandparents will touch the statue with a flower, a shawl or their hand and then touch that to the littlest ones.

Which photo do you like best?  Number 1?

Or number 2?