Every December 23rd, something magical happens in Oaxaca’s central square. What starts as ordinary radishes transforms into an extraordinary celebration that blends Indigenous tradition with Spanish colonial influence—and the results are nothing short of spectacular. The Night When Vegetables Take Center Stage Noche de Rábanos (Night of the Radishes) might sound quirky to outsiders,…
There’s a moment each year in Oaxaca when the city transforms into a golden tapestry. Markets overflow with mountains of bright orange cempasúchil—Mexican marigolds—their distinctive scent filling the air. Streets become rivers of scattered petals forming pathways from cemeteries to homes, guiding souls back to the world of the living during Mexico’s most profound celebration….
In the humble kitchens of Oaxaca’s Central Valleys, the rhythmic sound of hands patting corn masa echoes a tradition thousands of years in the making. Women prepare tlayudas—large, thin tortillas that form the foundation of one of Oaxaca’s most beloved dishes. Behind them, clay pots of black beans simmer over wood fires, filling the air…