Are you ready for Christmas yet? Each time the expected day is closer and we are celebrating Christmas properly. For this reason, in Supercurioso we wanted to explore How is Christmas celebrated in Colombia?. This Latin American country is a very festive and happy place that knows how to enjoy with the best Colombian Christmas traditions. If you want to know more, join us!
“Since September it feels like December is coming” This is famous slogan that is heard on Colombian radio. And yes, one of the curiosities of Colombia is that Christmas is prepared since September. The stores are filled with Christmas lights and decorations that make everyone happy. In Colombia, why is Christmas celebrated? Being a Catholic country, the birth of Jesus is mainly remembered, but as is natural in Colombians, this party is filled with joy, music and flavor. Let’s learn a little about these traditions!
1. The day of candles
In Colombia it It opens the Christmas season with the day of the candles. This party takes place on 7 out of december and its goal is to celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. This day, Colombia is in charge of igniting the world and the spirit of Christmas. everyone gathers to light candles, torches and lanterns along the street, over the windows and on the balconies.
This tradition is made for illuminate the path of the virgin. But the most important thing tonight is to have 7 candles, which must be given away. Each of these represents a wish that can be made to the virgin, or that can be offered to another person in need. Sometimes wishes are made based on the color of the candle. Thus, red is love and green is hope, for example.
This Colombian tradition reminds us of Washington Irving, who said: “Christmas is the season to light the fire of hospitality in the living room, and the great flame of charity in the heart.” This is one of the great Christmas phrases that fill us with illusion.
This is a very curious way in which Christmas is celebrated in Colombia. The novenas are one series of prayers that are made during the 9 days before Christmas, beginning on December 16. During each of these days they leave narrating the last days before the birth of Jesus. Believers or not, it is one of the Colombian Christmas traditions go to a friend’s house to pray the novena. After gathering in front of the manger to pray, the gathering turns into another celebration, filled with food, music, and drink.
Something curious about the novenas is that no Colombian home can be without tambourines and maracas, which become another Christmas decoration. This is because during the novenas joys are sungwhich are small songs that ask Jesus to reach Colombian homes.
3. Christmas bonuses
Among the Colombian Christmas traditions are the Christmas bonuses, which are a kind of game or bet. They are made between family and friends and normally start on December 16, along with the novenas. The one who loses the game he must pay the winner his Christmas bonus with a gift on Christmas day. There are many games, but among the most common are “Yes and No”: in this you must avoid saying “yes” or “no”, otherwise you will have to pay the bonus. Another very famous one is “the three feet”, if you are unaware the other person can place her foot between yours and thus you will have lost.
A great way that Christmas is celebrated in Colombia is with lots of food. Between typical colombian food we can find the ajiaco, the suckling pig and the sancocho. Which are dishes that cannot be missing from the Christmas table.
But the most important are the donut, a ball of fried cornmeal and the custard, a kind of flan. In addition to these, there are tamales, turkey leg and pork leg. there is also the fruit bread and wine cake. All these are accompanied with a champagne or whiskey.
Beyond decorations, this is another way in which Christmas is celebrated in Colombia. Well it’s tradition assemble the tree and the manger among the whole family. For their part, making the nativity scene is quite a feat and families enjoy making them on a large scale, so much so that in the city of Cartagenaexists the biggest manger in the world who has been awarded four guinness records Y that moves through different cities.
It’s also normal find decorated almost anywhere, from homes, squares, museums and shopping centers. Everyone takes great pains to have the best Christmas decorations. Among this, there are also living nativity scenes. In these, they are made short presentations of the path of Mary and Joseph until the birth of the Child Jesus.
6. The spectacular Lighting!
Are we going to see the lights? This is a plan that cannot be missing among Colombian Christmas traditions. All cities decorate their streets from end to end. In parks, squares and shopping centers large structures and Christmas decorations are erected very beautiful and colorful. The magnitude of the lighting is such that they have even been designed different routes for people to tour the city while they see the lights.
When you are going around the lights, you cannot forget to take your cinnamon. This is a mix of brandy with panela and cinnamon, very typical, above all, for the cold night of Bogotá. On the other hand, if you prefer non-alcoholic drinks, you can have a chocolate or panela water with cheese. We assure you that it is one of the Colombian delights!
Similar to the alumbrados, one of the curiosities of Bogotá is that there is the night cycle path At Christmas time, a day is chosen when from 6 to 12 p.m. several streets are closed to give way to bicycles and pedestrians. In addition to enjoying the lighting, you can enjoy the different stops that include live music and food.
During the December season, in Colombia there is no shortage of classic Christmas carols. But this is not all. It is also normal to hear typical rhythms of the country such as salsa, vallenato, cumbia and even papayaThis is a typical rhythm of the Caribbean coast that lights up any party.
If you have been to Colombia, you surely know that it is a country where the party never stops. For this reason, it is tradition to meet The Chivas Rumberas, These are a kind of large car, which does not have doors and which It has the space for people to dance inside. Parties are held there while walking throughout the city and arriving at different stops where there are more festivities. Now that’s a lot of partying!
8. Christmas Eve in Colombia
December 24 is very important for families. From very early everyone gets ready and prepares the new pints which will open at night. After leaving work, everyone gathers at home to pray the last day of the novena.
When midnight arrives, the Child Jesus is uncovered, this is usually done by the youngest in the house. Once this tradition is fulfilled, a toast to christmas. And now if dinner comes. When everyone is done, it’s time to open the presents.
Something that should not surprise you about Colombia is that it leave the doors open. In some neighborhoods it is common party in the street with the neighbors. Thus, they stop by to say hello and stay for a while to talk and have a few drinks.
The next morning the party continues and the typical roast of December 25. This is usually accompanied by refajo, a mixture of soda and beer which, it has always been said, is the most effective cure for cure the hangover of those who went too far.
9. Social Works
During this time it is also typical to see different social works. These are carried out by institutions such as The Mayor’s Office or the National Police that organize donations of gifts and markets for the most vulnerable families in the country. Similarly, large companies and shopping centers join the cause to collect donations. In addition, they give their employees the classic anchetas, these are filled with cookies, wine, candy, and canned food.
In Colombia it is also traditional to find many Christmas shows. It is not surprising that hethe theaters take over the streets to give the community a big smile. Also amateurs and individuals exploit all their talent making juggling, dancing or miming and much more! This is great entertainment for pedestrians, who help them with tips.
Within the country’s theaters, large productions are also made: plays and musicals, that complement the Christmas plan of any Colombian. Among them stands out Me if, the largest musical theater school in the country.
Finally, there are The Carrancios. These are a kind of parade that takes place in some parts of the country, such as Santander. In general, they are held on December 29 and in them you can see large carriages with different famous and regional personalities, which represent the entire Colombian culture. This is a great way to celebrate with the whole family in the best Colombian style.
What do you think of these Colombian traditions? Wow, they have awakened us in the Christmas spirit! Tell us what traditions you have to celebrate Christmas. We hope you are well and that you spend these holidays with your family surrounded by lots of love and abundance.
If the Christmas spirit has already awakened in you, we invite you to read our post on Christmas curiosities. From now on, we wish you happy holidays and much prosperity! Christmas in the world is very diverse. For this reason, we have prepared this selection about the celebrations of different countries. We hope you enjoy it and get in the Christmas spirit.