Cartegena, Colombia . There are competitions for the best light displays and many towns hold concerts and fireworks shows. Novenas are often family events with prayers, bible readings, games, carols, and music. May 1 – Friday: Labor Day (Día del Trabajo) Labor Day originated in the United States where it falls … Free Comic Book Day May 01, 2021. Participants dress up in exotic costumes and take part in a grand parade with a queen, floats, salsa music, rumba dancing, food, drink and partying. The Day of the Candles occurs on December 7 and marks the unofficial start of the Colombian Christmas season. Colombia is a country rich in diversity; its society is made up of many ethnic groups, the largest being the mestizo population – a racial mix of European and native population. The majority of holidays in this predominantly Catholic country—12 of 18—are religious observances. Día de las Velitas (Day of Candles) on December 7 is a widely observed holiday tradition in Colombia and is considered the unofficial start of the Christmas season.. The main holidays and festivals, those that have the highest international and domestic visibility include those below. Day two is the Children’s Carnival followed by the Arrival of the Castaneda Family on the third, a colorful cartoon with all the stereotypes including a pregnant bride and a drunk priest. It is also the start of Holy Week. Carnivals are a major focus, with most cities and towns having at least one at some point in the year, that feature costumes, parades, music, food, wild parties, and dancing. People Go Out With Friends. Colombian Christmas traditions Dia de las Velitas The Day of the Little Candles is the first day of the celebrations on 7 December. It is the day before Good Friday. Some are truly unmissable events! Ethnic Relations. Each candle is lit to signify a path for the Virgin Mary to bring good wishes for the new year and thanks for the good blessings she has brought Colombians to the current year. (The Night of the Candles) – This is a beautiful and scenic tradition that is best seen in local neighborhoods. Colombia is the home of many colorful festivals and traditions taking place throughout the year, with many Colombia holidays largely dictated by the Catholic calendar. The rest are civic holidays, like Independence Day (July 20), the Battle of Boyacá (August 7), and Labor Day (May 1). January and June have the most holidays, at three per month. The city of Popaya is widely considered to be the religious center of the country and is home to an Easter procession that is regarded by many as the finest in South America. Colombian Culture: Art, Dance & Music Make Colombia Unique . National Day of Prayer May 06, 2021. Maundy Thursday is a Christian observance on the Thursday during Holy Week. Officially, Christmas traditions in Colombia begin on December 7 when Colombian people celebrate El Día de las Velitas, or Day of the Little Candles. Taking place over ten days in early August, there are concerts, parades, food and drink, an orchid exposition, and a competition amongst saddlemen bearing flowers on horseback. We diligently research and continuously update our holiday dates and information. The World Travel Guide (WTG) is the flagship digital consumer brand within the Columbus Travel Media portfolio. Get ready for firecrackers and dragon parades as communities all over the world welcome the Year of the Ox on Friday, February 12. © Time and Date AS 1995–2020. The people of this South American country enjoy the national holiday celebrations of Colombia. Colombia is the home of many colorful festivals and traditions taking place throughout the year, with many Colombia holidays largely dictated by the Catholic calendar. Besides a massive trade fair for the publishing industry, the event features talks, workshops, concerts, exhibitions, food, drink and a children’s program. Fill … Also, the government declares public holidays in Colombia on these occasions. Candles are lit at dark around 7 pm outside h… This is an important festivity in which kids and adults join at night to light velitas (little candles) in the streets and windows. The most typical Colombian Christmas traditions include eating natilla (a custard dish resembling a flan) and buñuelos (fried dough balls) and attending a Novena de Aguinaldos, when families come together to eat, sing carols (villancicos) and recite a set of prayers. Traditionally held in January, this is a 3 days carnival festival in Pasto. The celebrations begin at midnight on Christmas Eve with prayers, gift giving, feasts, fireworks and parties that last until dawn. If it is the left or right half, depends on where you are on Earth. Day four and five are Blacks and Whites Day respectively followed by a Grand Parade on the fifth. This event usually takes place around 7pm in the evening, with families and friends gathering to light candles and lanterns in … Fill Your Pockets with Lentils. Houses and streets … Colombian Society. Popular upcoming holidays you may be interested in. The Black and White Festival showcases a mixture of indigenous Colombian, Spanish, and Afro-Colombian traditions Black and White Festival, January– A 3-day carnival held in the city of Pasto, in southeastern Colombia, showcases a mixture of indigenous rituals, Spanish colonial, and later Colombian and Afro-Colombian traditions and customs. A comprehensive guide to the world’s best travel destinations, its print heritage stretches back more than 30 years, with the online portal reaching its 20-year anniversary in 2019. In the States, you’ll often find guys and girls going out with a friend or … The first day of the celebration involves the Colonies Parade, a rock concert where farmers offer tributes of flowers and songs to the Virgin of Mercy in return for a good harvest. … Mardi Gras February 16, 2021. If you don't have an account yet, make one here. The city of Barranquilla has 2 extra holidays celebrating Monday and Tuesday of Carnival. The First Quarter Moon is a primary Moon phase when we can see exactly half of the Moon's surface illuminated. Festivities end with the reading of the testament, a burning of the devil and the burying of the gourd. No holidays shown? Christmas Day is a public holiday, a quieter time for family gatherings. The population of Colombia is a largely Catholic, so Christmas events, celebrating the birth of Jesus, are second only to Easter. The following are public holidays in Colombia : Año Nuevo / (New Year's Day) (January 1) Palm Sunday is a Christian feast that commemorates Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem.