You likely have heard of ice carving contests, or chocolate carving contests, but radishes? On December 23, Oaxaca holds the largest (only)radish carving contest in the world. The contest is large, and the radishes are too, weighing up to seven pounds! Primarily Nativity Scenes, the carvers now use their imagination and carve everything from famous Mexican revolutionaries, like Pancho Villa, to Guelaguetza dancers. It is believed that this tradition is derived from the Christmas Eve market vendors, who used carved radish sculptures to attract customers to their stalls. This early form of advertising is now an art form and a serious contest that has been in existence since 1897. In addition to the Night of the Radishes, we will enjoy the Pageants, Posadas, Big Head parade and other colorful and exciting traditions that take place during the holidays.
Join us on an extraordinary journey to Oaxaca during this southern state’s most festive and colorful time of the year. Highlighted by the quirky and one-of-a-kind Night of the Radishes, radish carving contest, we also enjoy the festive Christmas Posadas, where families go door to door in search of shelter, the Calenda Parade, where each neighborhood church decorates a float with angels, sheep, shepherds and more, and they circle twice around the Zocalo before celebrating mass at their respective locations. This journey also includes visits to fabulous local artisans, including weavers, potters, wood carvers and others. To top it off, we enjoy a cooking class where we will learn about Oaxaca’s regional delicacies. Join us for this festive occasion!
Day 1, Friday, December 20, Arrive Oaxaca
Arrive Oaxaca City, where you will be met at the airport and transferred to our comfortable, centrally located hotel. Enjoy a welcome dinner at a Oaxaca favorite to explore the world of the famed mole sauces of Oaxaca! (D)
Note: Depending on your flight arrival time, you might want to arrive one day early. We can make your hotel arrangements.
Day 2, Saturday. December 21, Oaxaca City Tour
After breakfast, take a guided walking tour of Oaxaca, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage City, dating back to the 1530’s. Highlights of our tour include the neighborhoods of Oaxaca, to explore their mural art and funky vibe! Other highlights will be explored, such as: the Santo Domingo Church and Museum of Oaxacan Culture, the bustling Benito Juarez Market, lively central Zocalo and the lovely pedestrian street, Garcia Virgil. We’ll enjoy “comida” together, at a wonderful Oaxacan restaurant. Late afternoon is free to explore and meander in Oaxaca City, stopping at Galleries, Coops, Cafes, Bookstores and colorful dynamic markets. Or you can sit at the Zocalo and people watch or listen to the marimba players. (B, L)
Day 3, Sunday, December 22, Tlacolula Sunday Market, Teotitlan del Valle Weavers and Dyers
Since today is Sunday, we’ll visit a favorite weekly “tianguis” or market, in the town of Tlacolula. Here, we’ll see villagers engaging in trade, much as they have for over 3000 years! We’ll enjoy the sights, sounds and aromas of this vibrant market. Leaving Tlacolula, we travel to the weaving and dyeing community of Teotitlan del Valle, where we will visit with some of the master weavers and dyers of this community, to better understand their natural dye materials and processes, and their master weaving techniques. We will enjoy eating hand-made quesadillas and “tlayudas” on their lovely patio! (B, L)
Day 4, Monday. December 23, Cooking Class, Night of the Radishes!
A special treat is in store today, as we will be led in a wonderful cooking class to learn about Oaxaca’s regional specialties, such as mole, squash blossoms, tamales and more. Our morning begins with savoring delicious high altitude coffee known as Pluma Hidalgo, from the Sierra Madre del Sur mountain range. From here, we walk to the small local market, to buy our ingredients for our multiple course meal. After our delicious comida, we’ll move to the Zocalo, to prepare for our viewing and to admire the fabulous radish carvings! (B, L)
Day 5, Tuesday, December 24, Ocotlan and the Southern Craft Route
Today we travel into what is known, as the Southern Craft Route! We begin in the town of Ocotlan, where we’ll visit the Rodolfo Morales Museum housed in a lovingly restored Dominican Convent. We’ll visit the colorful market in this town, before meeting several artisans. On the Southern Craft route, we’ll visit numerous artisan communities, including: San Antonino for embroidered blusas, Santo Tomas Jalieza, where cotton belts and bags and table runners are woven on backstrap looms; San Martin Tilcajete, to visit the famed wood animal carvers; and to San Bartolo Coyotepec, famous for its black pottery, produced by firing in oxygen reduced kilns. We’ll also visit the Museum of Oaxacan Folk Art (B, L)
Day 6, Wednesday. December 25, Monte Alban, Arrazola and Holiday Dinner!
Today is dedicated to exploration of the first urban center (city) of Mesoamerica, Monte Alban. Mesoamerica is a cultural and geographic region that spans from NW Mexico to Central America. Great civilizations emerged and thrived in this region, among them, the Zapotec, the Olmec, the Maya, were among the first cultural groups to develop into a civilization in this region. By civilization, this means they went beyond being nomadic hunter/gatherers and began to develop complex systems of religion, politics and commercial activity. Monte Alban was one of the first cities to develop in Mesoamerica. After we immerse ourselves in this early world, we come back to present day life and refresh ourselves in the on-site cafeteria and museum bookstore. Since we’re in the neighborhood, we’ll pay a visit to our favorite wood carvers, the Jimenez family in Arrazola, the first family to introduce the wood carving tradition. Returning to Oaxaca City, we’ll rest up or explore, before gathering for our special holiday dinner! (B, L, D)
Day 7, Thursday. December 26, Independent Exploring!
Our last day in Oaxaca is left open for us to continue as a group or independently to explore many of Oaxaca’s museums, including The Textile Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art and Art Galleries, Coops, Café’s, Bookstores and colorful dynamic markets. Or, we can sit at the Zocalo and watch people as they amble by, or listen to the marimba players. One thing for sure, we will enjoy a fabulous Farewell Dinner! (B, D)
Day 8, Friday. December 27, Depart from Oaxaca City or extend your stay in the region. Option Extension: Fly to Huatulco or Puerto Escondido! (B)
Guelaguetza
Dancer
Tejate
Tortillas
Guelagueta dancer
figures
radishes
Camel
radishes
truck
Bull fight
The Virgen
La Catrina