Christmas in Colombia facts for kids
Christmas in Colombia is a very special time! People decorate their homes with beautiful things like nativity scenes (which show the birth of Jesus), bright red poinsettias flowers, Christmas trees, and glowing candles. The holiday season officially ends on January 1st. On this day, people celebrate with a huge fireworks show called 'the dawn'. It's the biggest fireworks event in Colombia, lasting from midnight on New Year's Eve until sunset on January 1st!
Christmas Fun in Colombia
Christmas traditions in Colombia have some old influences from the Basque region of Spain. You can see these influences especially in the Antioquia area.
The fun starts around late November. Markets begin selling all sorts of Christmas items. You can find trees, new clothes, garlands, special Christmas flowers, and lots of lights. They also sell a popular mix for custard, which is a yummy Colombian Christmas dessert.
On Christmas Eve, called 'Good Night' (or Nochebuena), many neighborhoods have fun chocolate parties. These are gatherings where neighbors get together. They share traditional holiday foods like crispy fritters, creamy custard, warm chocolate, and sweet bonus bread. Homes are often decorated with bright lights and pretty flowers. Underneath the Christmas trees, people often set up nativity scenes that show the birth of Jesus.
Day of the Little Candles
One of the most important holiday celebrations is the Day of the Little Candles. This happens between December 7th and 8th. Even though the official start of Christmas is the first Sunday of Advent (usually in late November or early December), the Day of the Little Candles is seen as the unofficial start of the Christmas season in Colombia.
On the night of December 7th, people place many candles and paper lanterns everywhere. You can see them on windowsills, balconies, porches, sidewalks, streets, and even in parks and town squares! People do this to honor the Virgin Mary and her Immaculate Conception. On December 8th, it's common for houses to fly a white flag with an image of the Virgin Mary all day long. Many towns also have special events, like fireworks displays and fun contests.
See also
- Culture of Colombia
- Religion in Colombia
- Public holidays in Colombia
