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La noche de los rbanos
La noche de los rbanos es una exhibicin y competencia muy
especial que toma lugar cada 23 dediciembre en la plaza central de
Ciudad Oaxaca, en Mxico. Los competidores hacen esculturas derbanos
grandes que convierten en animales, bailarines, santos, la Virgen
Mara, o casi cualquier cosaimaginable. Las esculturas se exhiben en
la noche a un pblico vido que quiere asombrarse ante lahabilidad y
creatividad de los artistas. El ganador recibe 12,000 pesos y su
foto sale en el peridico. Estatradicin anual probablemente comenz
en el siglo 16 y todava es muy popular. Al terminar la
competencia, an queda mucho que hacer. Hay comidas y artesanas
por todas partes, y amigos yfamiliares celebran la fiesta hasta
bien entrada la noche.
La noche de los rbanos
El escenario es el zcalo o plaza central de Ciudad Oaxaca,
Mxico. La fecha es el 23 de diciembre, y lahora es el anochecer. El
evento es la Noche de los Rbanos, una de las competencias de arte
folklricoms inusuales de todo Mxico. El pblico ya hace una larga
fila y los jueces estn listos. Docenas dequioscos exhiben
esculturas que representan animales, santos, bailarines,
catedrales, la Virgen Mara, ycasi cualquier cosa que surja de la
frtil imaginacin de los creadores. El riesgo es alto: el ganador
sellevar a casa 12,000 pesos y su foto saldr en el peridico.
Aunque el origen de este concurso tradicional se pierde en el
tiempo, sabemos que los espaoles trajeronel rbano y otras verduras
a Mxico en el siglo 16. Las leyendas hablan de dos monjes que
alentaron a losmexicanos originales a sembrar cultivos para vivir y
vender. Para atraer compradores al mercado local, unfraile sugiri
esculpir rbanos en formas imaginativas y exhibirlos junto a los
productos que esperabanvender. Tres siglos despus, en 1897, el
alcalde de Oaxaca formaliz la tradicin anual y la exhibicin
hatomado lugar desde entonces.
Los rbanos no son los pequeos, rojos y redondos que se ven en
Estados Unidos. Son gruesos, largos ycilndricos, miden hasta 50
centmetros de largo, y pesan hasta ms de 3 kilos cada uno. Crecen
conformas contorsionadas con mltiples extremidades. Sus formas
grotescas inspiran a los escultores, que
deben reaccionar creativamente ante lo que tienen a mano. Esto
da un aspecto improvisado a muchas delas obras. Si las esculturas
fueran msica, la msica sera jazz.
Se emplea una variedad de tcnicas para crear estas obras de arte
folklricas pero, no importa la tcnica,al pblico le encanta la
exhibicin. Los flashes de mltiples cmaras dan ritmo al
acontecimiento, yexpresiones de asombro escapan de los observadores
al toparse con una escultura particularmenteimaginativa. Pronto se
elegir a un ganador. y esto es bueno, porque ni los ms frecuentes
rocos de aguapueden impedir que las obras de arte se marchiten en
la clida noche oaxaquea. El pblico se va poco apoco, examinando los
quioscos de artesanas o probando los dulces navideos. La Noche de
los Rbanosha concluido hasta el ao prximo.
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Night of the Radishes
The Night of the Radishes is a unique exhibition and competition
that takes place every December 23rd inthe main plaza in Oaxaca
City, Mexico. People carve large radishes into animals, dancers,
saints, the VirginMary, or nearly anything they can imagine. They
are displayed in the evening to eager crowds who come tobe amazed
by the skill and creativity of the sculptors. The winner receives
12,000 pesos and gets hispicture in the morning paper. This yearly
tradition probably started in the 16th century, and is as popular
asever. When the competition is over, there is still plenty to do.
Food and crafts are everywhere, and friends
and families celebrate the holiday season well into the
night.
Night of the Radishes
The setting is the main Zcalo - or central plaza - of Oaxaca
City, Mexico. The date is December 23rd, andthe time is sunset. The
event is the Night of the Radishes, one of the most unusual folk
art competitions inall of Mexico. Already the line of eager viewers
is long, and the judges are ready. Dozens of booths displaycarvings
representing animals, saints, dancers, cathedrals, the Virgin Mary,
nearly anything that might arisefrom the fertile imaginations of
the creators. The stakes are high. The winner takes home 12,000
pesos andgets his picture in the morning paper.
Although the origin of this traditional contest is lost in the
mists of time, we do know that the Spanish
brought radishes and other vegetables to Mexico in the 16th
century. Legend speaks of two monks thatencouraged the natives to
cultivate crops for subsistence and for sale. One friar suggested
that as a way toentice people to the local market, they carve
radishes into fanciful shapes and display them along with
theproduce they hoped to sell. Three centuries later, in 1897, the
mayor of Oaxaca formalized what hadbecome a yearly tradition, and
the exhibition has been held ever since.
The radishes are not the little red round ones so prevalent in
the United States. They are thick, long andcylindrical, measuring
up to 20 inches in length and weighing up to seven pounds each.
They grow intocontorted shapes with multiple appendages. This
grotesque outcome proves inspirational to the carvers,who are often
forced to react creatively to what they have at hand. This gives an
improvisational feel tomany of the works. If the sculptures were
music, they would be jazz.
A variety of techniques are employed to create these folk art
masterpieces, but whatever the approach, thecrowd loves the
exhibition. Popping flashbulbs punctuate the proceedings as cries
of amazement ripplethrough the onlookers when a particularly
inventive display is encountered. Soon a winner will be chosen,but
even the most diligent spraying cannot keep the masterworks from
browning and wilting in the warmOxacan night. The people drift off,
perusing the many craft booths, or perhaps sampling some of the
manysweets and pastries made especially for the holiday season. The
Night of the Radishes is over until nextyear.
