Discover Oaxaca: Top 15 Amazing Fun Facts to Explore in This Colorful Mexican Gem

1. Mezcal Sipper Showdown

Whether you prefer "gourdgeous" sippers or you're just "jic-urious", the people of Oaxaca have a spirited debate over the perfect drinking vessel for their beloved mezcal: Tradition suggests using a small half gourd or jicarita, but some argue that a glass or clay vessel might elevate the flavors even more. So, go on! Mix it up and toast to trying new things with your mezcal!
Source => tequilaaficionado.com

2. Radishing Christmas Carvings

When vegetables turn artistic and carve out their own niche in the world of Christmas festivities, you know you're in Oaxaca: this Mexican city celebrates the Night of the Radishes (Noche de Rábanos) every December 23rd, where large radishes are intricately sculpted into scenes and figures, drawing a plethora of contestants and thousands of amused spectators, who revel in this quirky, century-old tradition that began as a competition to lure customers to the Christmas market.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

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=> Fun Facts about Mexico-City

3. Grasshopper Grub

In a leap of gastronomical faith, Oaxacans munch on frisky performers of the insect world – grasshoppers, taking the phrase "a hop, skip, and a munch" to a whole new level: Chapulines, a traditional Mexican snack dating back to pre-Spanish conquest times, are dried and roasted grasshoppers generously seasoned with lemon, garlic, and chile, making them a unique and nutritious source of low-fat, high-protein goodness!
Source => texasmonthly.com

4. Cheesy Quesadilla Breakfast

Move over, cheese wizards: Oaxaca has got the cheesiest trick up its sleeve – and it involves breakfast quesadillas! In this magical region, Oaxacan Cheese Quesadillas are a delightful morning treat, combining the melt-in-your-mouth goodness of Oaxaca cheese with the unique flavor punch of epazote leaves. Ready in a mere three minutes, these cheesy wonders have been enchanting taste buds and mezcal party guests alike with their delectable blend of basil, oregano, anise, citrus, pine, mint, and mustard greens notes, all wrapped up in a crisped corn tortilla and served alongside scrumptious salsa.
Source => gimmesomeoven.com

5. Alley of Smoke Delights

If you're looking for a meal with more smoke than a Sherlock Holmes investigation, then look no further: The Mercado 20 de Noviembre in Oaxaca boasts a tantalizing Pasillo de Humo (alley of smoke) where visitors can choose their own meat to be grilled and served with fresh vegetables alongside tortillas for an authentic feast that'll surely knock your culinary socks off.
Source => tripadvisor.com

6. Ancient Spring Spa Day

If you find yourself in Oaxaca, Mexico and need a spa day, Hierve el Agua might just be the ancient treat that'll make you say, "Arthritis who?" Sink those creaky bones into natural spring pools where people have been getting their DIY spa treatments for thousands of years: In addition to offering an extraordinary natural landscape, Hierve el Agua is also the site of 2,500-year-old Zapotec-built irrigation systems, terraces, and mineral-rich waters attributed with therapeutic properties.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Day of the Dead Festivities

In Oaxaca, the afterlife must be quite the party crasher, as the living happily make room for them to join in on the good times: Oaxaca's Day of the Dead festivities feature vibrant comparsas and muerteadas, traditional parades and parties throughout October and November, with spectacular costumes, music, dancing, mezcal, and celebrations lasting up to 24 hours straight – a prime exhibition of Oaxacan hospitality, even towards the deceased!
Source => offpathtravels.com

8. Saucy Chocolate Secrets

Who said chocolate can't be saucy? Oaxaca, Mexico, has got it all mixed up – in the best possible way: The region is famous for its rich, Oaxacan chocolate, which plays a starring role in the local food and drink scene, particularly in its iconic mole sauces! With a history deeply rooted in cacao beans, Oaxaca stands as the choco-hub of Mexico, even though the magical beans don't grow there. Thanks to an ancient trading route, Oaxacans have the honor of sipping the "Drink of the Gods" and reaping its health benefits. So next time you're feeling saucy, just add a sprinkle of chocolate!
Source => authenticfoodquest.com

9. Textile Mill Art Transformation

Who knew that Oaxaca had a textile mill makeover worthy of an HGTV special? Fabrics out, art in: San Agustin Etla, northwest of Oaxaca, houses the Centro de las Artes, where a former steam-powered textile mill now exhibits Mexican and Central American art, while its aqueduct helps quench the thirst of locals and visitors alike through the water treatment and bottling plant. With hilariously named bike race routes like La Carroñera, and breathtaking 7097 ft high mountain views, it's clearly not your grandma's textile mill anymore!
Source => oaxacamtb.org

10. Mythical Wooden Beasts

In a world where mythical beasts spring to life from the imaginations of artists and take root in the branches of a sacred tree, Oaxaca reigns as the whimsical kingdom of alebrijes: home to these fascinatingly intricate wooden sculptures, hand-carved from copal tree branches and painted with vibrant Zapotec patterns in the towns of San Martin Tilcajete and San Antonio Arrazola, these one-of-a-kind masterpieces captivate art collectors worldwide while ensuring the sustainability of the sacred copal tree itself.
Source => vivamexico.com

11. Exploring Monte Albán

Feeling a bit "terrace-fied" by ancient architecture? Unleash your inner Indiana Jones and say hello to a Zapotec extravaganza: Monte Albán, in the valleys of beautiful Oaxaca, was a bustling ceremonial center and capital that dazzled for over a thousand years with its terraces, dams, canals, pyramids, and hieroglyphic-laden bas-reliefs – but remember, 'mi casa es su casa' did not apply for outsiders, as only Rockin' Zapotecs and Mixin' Mixtecs were allowed in the club.
Source => whc.unesco.org

12. Record-Breaking Huggable Tree

You know that person who wraps their arms around everyone at the party like they're hugging a particularly large refrigerator? Well, the Tule Tree in Oaxaca has them beat, hands down: This ancient party animal boasts a girth of 42 meters (137.8 feet) and a diameter of 14.05 meters (46.1 feet) at its widest points, making it the tree with the largest circumference on Earth, and it's been showing off its curves for over 2,000 years!
Source => bucketlistbri.com

13. Eccentric Botanical Garden

If Oaxaca were an eccentric aunt, she'd have the greenest thumb and a plant-filled paradise to rival the Garden of Eden: Enter the Jardin Ethnobotanico of Oaxaca, featuring over 900 plant species that showcase the region's geologic complexity and a mind-blowing variety of chili peppers and maize. Located in an old courtyard of the Santo Domingo church, this botanical wonderland offers insight into the use of indigenous plants for medical, household, food, and religious purposes, and was lovingly restored and transformed into a museum by artist Francisco Toledo.
Source => thetravelinggardener.com

14. Maize-merizing Guelaguetza Festival

Holy maize balls, Batman! Oaxaca is a cultural kaleidoscope of corn-themed capers: Boasting over 30% indigenous population from Zapotec and Mixtec ethnic groups, the annual Guelaguetza festival celebrates Oaxaca's vibrant heritage with traditional dances, costumes, and music rooted in worshipping corn and its divine patron. While touristy eyes may grow corny at the spectacle, the festival remains a heartfelt fiesta for the indigenous folks of Oaxaca.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

15. Hot Ancient Detox Session

Forget signing waivers for hot sauce challenges and step into Mexico's ancient heat therapy room: Oaxaca offers the tradition-steeped Temazcal ceremony, where a shaman guides participants through chants and meditations in an enclosed space filled with hot volcanic rocks, purifying bodies and souls in a culturally immersive detox session.
Source => mexicofamilytravel.com