I always prefer to go down to Oaxaca’s zócalo in the morning of December 23rd to watch the Noche de Rábanos artisans bring their creations into being — and before the masses descend. At this year’s 120th annual Rábanos the crowds had already begun to gather behind the barriers by 10:30 AM. Of course, the downside to going early is that some of the artisans are further along in their work than others.
Alas, in the category of Rábanos Tradicional (radishes representing traditional subject matter), the eventual first prize winner had only just begun…
However, when I passed by, the eventual first prize winner in the category of Rábanos Libre (radishes free subject matter) was almost finished and the dragon was about to be slayed.
In the Flor Inmortal (dried flower) category… How could I have missed 2/3rds of the entries?!! However, I did manage to capture the 2nd prize winner.
Then there was the Totomoxtle (corn husks)… Second place in the Totomoxtle Natural (natural husk color) category went to this delightful depiction of Oaxaca’s version of a county fair that even included a House of Horror and a Tilt-A-Whirl.
First place in the category of Totomoxtle Natural was awarded to…
And, what can I say about “Nahualli” by Marco Antonio Ruíz Sosa, the winner of the Totomoxtle Decorado (dyed corn husks)?
Do you think Lewis Carroll was channeling shadow souls when he wrote Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland? Kenneth Grahame when he wrote The Wind in the Willows? Was C. S. Lewis guided by a nahualli when he wrote The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? And, what about Beatrix Potter???
Thank you, Shannon! As usual a lovely and informative post. I wondered about the difference in the two rabanos categories thinking it had more to do with the way the radishes were used, more freestyle for libres, but like many times before, I was wrong. Subject matter is the determining factor. Muchas gracias!
I know what you mean. I can’t tell you the number of times (especially here) I’ve assumed one thing and it’s turned out to be something else. Sheesh, guess that’s why they say, you learn something new everyday!
I like that corn husk county fair!
Yep, me too!
All were wonderful! Thanks, Shannon!
¡Muchisimas gracias amiga!
[…] by Moisés Ruíz Sosa, last year’s first prize winner, who just happens to be the brother of this year’s winner, Marco Antonio Ruíz […]