Christmas Day celebrates the nativity of Jesus, which according to tradition took place on December 25, 1 BC. This is typically when Christmas gifts are exchanged in Colombia at night.ĭecember 25 – Christmas Day ( Día de Navidad) holiday in Colombia. These days are celebrated in Colombia with carols, hymns and food.ĭecember 24 – Christmas Eve, which is an observed holiday but is not an official Colombian public holiday. Oriental, San Juan and finally to Parque de los Pies Descalzos.ĭecember 16 to 24 – Novena de Aguinaldos, which for nine days, recalls the time before Jesus was born and ending with his arrival in the manger of Bethlehem. The route for the Desfile de Mitos y Leyendas parade in Medellín is in El Centro and last year started at 7 pm at Teatro Pablo Tobón Uribe and then to La Playa, Av. The history of this parade is shown in the above video from the Mayor of Medellín. This parade is held at night and is a display of tradition, folklore and creativity with some large floats and many participants in costumes. There are Christmas lights in many other parts of Medellín and the Aburrá Valley and one of the best this year are the Christmas lights in Sabaneta in 2021.ĭecember 8 – Immaculate Conception holiday and also Desfile de Mitos y Leyendas (Parade of Myths and Legends). There are other days that are important during this busy month of holiday celebrations in Medellín:Īlumbrados Sabaneta 2021: Photos of Christmas Lights in Sabaneta What Else to Do in Medellín in December and January?ĭía de las Velitas is only the unofficial beginning of the Christmas season in Medellín and Colombia. But since it’s a holiday, it’s not the best time to visit pueblos, as they will be packed with people. You can walk through neighborhoods in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley and in other cities and pueblos in Colombia and see this tradition with candles everywhere.Įach of the best pueblos near Medellín also celebrates this tradition of lighting candles on December 7. Some of the best places to see candles being lit include: You can see candles lit throughout the city of Medellín. Where to See Día de las Velitas in Medellín Larger grocery stores tend to be open and many shops in the malls and movie theaters will be open on Colombia holidays. In Colombia, on public holidays that happen to be on the weekend like the Immaculate Conception Day holiday in 2019, many shops and some restaurants close. On December 8, it is typical for houses in Colombia to hoist a white flag with the image of the Virgin Mary. And that Mary was void of original sin all of her life. The Immaculate Conception holiday celebrates the belief that Jesus was born of an immaculate conception to the Virgin Mary. For example, in the Caribbean region of Colombia including Cartagena, Barranquilla and Santa Marta, the lighting of candles takes place in the early hours of December 8, instead of the night before.Ī house in Barranquilla with candles in the early hours of December 8, photo by Jdvillalobos Immaculate Conception Holiday on December 8 And if the flame burns longer it’s thought to be the likelihood of a wish coming true.Īlso, in some locations in Colombia, the lighting of candles happens after midnight. ![]() So, with each candle lit, a new wish is granted. However, in recent years, Día de las Velitas has lost some of its religious significance and is considered a popular holiday tradition regardless if devout or not.Ī common belief now is that each candle represents a wish in the New Year. ![]() The Catholic church of Colombia kept this tradition alive with an annual tradition of lighting candles the night of December 7. In anticipation of this decision, people lit candles and paper lanterns to show their support of Pope Pius IX. Día de las Velitas candles, photo by Melissa Álvarez History of Día de las Velitas on December 7ĭía de las Velitas dates back to December 7, 1854, when Pope Pius IX defined as dogma the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, which was published in his Apostolic constitution, Ineffabilis Deus.
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