The festive season is THE favorite time of year for any self-respecting Colombian. Colombians look forward to December all year round (true and confirmed for our local friends!) You’ll find that Christmas in Colombia is not taken lightly. And believe us, that’s an understatement! Colombians even talk about « recibir diciembre », literally, « welcoming the month of December ». Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of Christmas festivities, 100% Colombian.
Los alumbrados navideños: the Christmas lights
When December arrives, the whole country puts up its Christmas decorations, including the lights that illuminate the streets. In Medellin in particular, thousands of visitors flock to the city every year to see the alumbrados that adorn every street corner, park and bridge. The city is transformed into a superb living spectacle of light and sound, and National Geographic has even ranked Medellin among the Top 10 most beautiful cities in which to watch the Christmas lights. For Colombians, watching the alumbrados, while eating an arepa or a skewer in the street, is a typical activity to do with family or friends between December and January.
La noche de la velitas: the night of the candles
December 7 officially marks the start of festivities in Colombia, with the Noche de la Velitas, a religious tradition celebrating the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. It’s an opportunity for Colombians to get together as a family to eat the typical dishes of the season: buñuelos, small round savoury doughnuts, hojuelas, a crunchy dessert, and natilla, a kind of sweet flan.
The tradition is to light candles of different colors. Each color corresponds to a wish:for example, the red candle represents love, the blue is synonymous with serenity, and the white is peace. This evening is all about sharing, family and being grateful for all the good things that have happened to us, and ensuring that they continue into the future. Everyone is out in the street, chatting with their neighbors, dancing and eating in a light-hearted and joyful atmosphere.
Colombian New Year's Eve and its wacky traditions
In Colombia, New Year’s Eve is celebrated first and foremost with the family, until midnight. Everyone waits for THE iconic song of this last evening of the year, that recognizable bell sound for all Colombians: « Faltan 5 pa las doce ».Emotions run high, everyone runs to get together in the same room and sing at the top of their lungs until midnight. We embrace, wish each other all the best for the coming year, and the party goes on, this time with friends, until the wee hours of the morning. Colombians have more than one tradition in their bag this New Year’s Eve:Wearing yellow underwear, why? To ensure joy and prosperity! To find love, wear red underwear…Fill your pockets with lentils. That’s right! It’s a guarantee of abundance for the coming year. You want a year full of travel? You’ve got to take your suitcase around the block! As you can see, Christmas in Colombia is a month of festivities, sharing and many traditions. The Christmas season ends in early January with the arrival of the Three Wise Men. Then it’s another year of waiting for December to arrive 🙂
