All-Oaxaca: Fun Facts, Great Books, & Compelling Movies

Trevor Lawrence
Dec 1, 2024
3 min read

Before I travel to a new destination – or revisit a favorite – I love to load up on interesting information, especially from a local perspective. Reading books and watching movies about a place gives you new eyes with which to absorb your own travel experiences.

I love recognizing the things I’ve read about when I’m on the ground, especially when it leads to great conversations with locals. I’m also a sucker for fun facts. So, here’s a brief list of all-Oaxaca fun facts, insightful reads, and unforgettable films to check out before your visit to Oaxaca!

All-Oaxaca Fun Facts

🐰 Every December 23rd, Oaxaca City hosts the Night of the Radishes (Noche de Rábanos), where artisans carve oversized radishes into intricate scenes, ranging from nativity displays to fantastical creatures.

🧚 María Sabina, a renowned Mazatec curandera (healer), introduced the world to the ceremonial use of hallucinogenic mushrooms. Her practices attracted celebrities in the 1960s — including John Lennon, Mick Jagger, and Bob Dylan.

🦋 Oaxaca is home to 16 officially recognized indigenous groups, each with its own language, customs, and rich history — including the Zapotec and Mixtec peoples.

🍔 Oaxacans have an unexpected love for mayonnaise. Supermarkets often dedicate entire aisles to it, and it’s commonly used on street foods like esquites (corn cups), hot dogs, and hamburgers.

Books All About Oaxaca

White hand silhouette with red and black dots on a brown background. Text reads "Pergentino José Hormigas Rojas" and "Almadía" below.

Hormigas rojas (Red Ants)

by Pergentino José

Hormigas Rojas (Red Ants) is the first-ever English translation of Sierra Zapotec fiction. Written by Pergentino José, a writer and former teacher from Oaxaca, the stories spotlight Indigenous culture, language, and life—often blending dreamlike storytelling with harsh social realities. Rooted in oral tradition, some stories were originally written in Sierra Zapotec, José’s mother tongue. His characters navigate loss, violence, and marginalization, especially in changing rural communities. Zapotec storytelling emphasizes atmosphere, emotion, and the blurred lines between the real and the sacred, echoing a deep, ancestral connection to the natural world. With themes of cultural survival and spiritual disconnection, Red Ants gives English readers a rare and moving glimpse into the world of Zapotec storytelling and resistance.

Oaxaca Journal

by Oliver Sacks

Part naturalist’s notebook, part travel diary, Oaxaca Journal is a gentle, curious, and delightfully meandering account of Oliver Sacks’ trip to southern Mexico with a group of fern enthusiasts. With his signature warmth and keen observational eye, Sacks brings to life the vibrant streets of Oaxaca, the lush landscapes, and the rich tapestry of pre-Columbian culture. As much about human connection and wonder as it is about botany, the book captures fleeting moments of joy and discovery. Sacks is full of curiosity, insight, and deep appreciation for the natural world. It feels like a conversation with an old friend… who’s super into ferns.

Oaxaca Resurgent

by A.S. Dillingham

Oaxaca Resurgent dives into how Indigenous communities in one of Mexico’s most rebellious regions helped shape politics throughout the 20th century. Using declassified government documents and fieldwork, A. S. Dillingham tells the story of how Indigenous people worked both within and against the system—democratizing teachers’ unions and pushing for bilingual education. The book follows the lives of anthropologists, union leaders, and activists, especially during the radical energy of the 1960s. By highlighting Indigenous anticolonial efforts, it sheds light on the roots of modern multiculturalism and offers key context for movements like Oaxaca’s 2006 uprising. It’s eye-opening and deeply relevant.

Must-Watch Oaxacan Films

📺 The Secret of the River (2024)

Created by Alberto Barrera Tyszka This is a Mexican drama series that follows two boys, Manuel and Erik, whose friendship is forged by a tragic event they witness in their small Oaxacan village. As adults, they reunite to confront their shared past, exploring themes of identity, culture, and acceptance within the context of Zapotec traditions and the muxe community. 8 episodes on Netflix.

🎥 Muxes (2016)

Directed by Ivan Olita Highlighting the unique culture of the Zapotec people of Oaxaca, Mexico, this groundbreaking HBO documentary chronicles the lives of those who identify as muxes, a widely recognized third gender.

🎥 Moronga (2017)

Directed by John Dickie If you want to get a little weird... or actually, a lot weird, check out this visually engrossing feature by a Oaxacan filmmaker in which a crazed Marine stumbles through the Day of the Dead celebrations in Oaxaca, only to get caught up in a violent crime involving a young woman. Described by the filmmaker as an "absurdist Western." Rent on Vimeo here.

Let these stories enrich your trip – Colombia is a place best experienced with open eyes, ears, and heart.

Got That Audiobook Queued Up for the Roadtrip? Click below to check out some curated picks for making life easier when traveling with (and without) small children.

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