9 reasons that make Christmas in Colombia unique

christmas light colombia
Christmas in Colombia revolves around family, traditions, and the delicious variety of food that is not to be missed. Waking up every morning to the smell of buñuelos and giving each other gifts on Christmas Eve make this the best time of the year.

From Medellín’s traditional Christmas lights—considered by National Geographic magazine as one of the 10 most amazing in the world—to the colorful and flavorful typical seasonal dishes filling Colombian tables, such as ajiaco santafereño, lechona, tamales, natilla, and buñuelos, there are many reasons why Colombia is a unique place to revel in the Christmas spirit.

 

Therefore, if you want your foreign friends to experience spending the holidays in our country, prepare their voices to sing Christmas carols, move their hips at family parties, eat until they are stuffed, embody the joy that characterizes us, and feel truly at home, we invite you to share this interesting information about Christmas in Colombia with them, as the country has become the preferred destination to celebrate the holiday season.

 

Colombian Christmas traditions

tradiciones navideñas colombianas

Christmas lights

  1. In Colombia, the Christmas season lasts more than a month! This is no exaggeration, because it officially starts on December 7th, when the country is lit up by candles, and ends on January 6th with the celebration of the Three Kings. It goes without saying that some people don’t want to wait, so they begin decorating the tree in November, to awaken the Christmas spirit as soon as possible.

 

  1. December 7th, the day of the Immaculate Conception is also the day in which the majority of Colombian children receive First Communion, a religious ceremony in which children receive the Eucharist for the first time.

 

  1. From December 16th to the 24th, the Novena de Aguinaldos prayers are read. Mother María Ignacia, a Bogotá-born nun from La Enseñanza School, modified the final text in the 19th century. This is one of the most highly anticipated celebrations for everyone, because in addition to being a space to approach spirituality, it is the perfect time to gather the family together and eat to your heart’s content. Buñuelos and natilla are the most popular treats during these gatherings.

 

  1. In Colombia, Niño Dios, not Santa Claus, brings the gifts to children. Niño Dios or Niño Jesús is the symbol that represents Jesus’s childhood. Children are told that he goes to each house to deliver the gifts that they requested by letter.

 

  1. Each December, around 74 million bottles of aguardiente and 42 million bottles of rum are sold. Colombians like to accompany their celebrations with a drink that brings cheer to their lives. Although aguardiente, also called guaro, is the most popular, rum and lots of beer are also popular drinks.

 

  1. During this season, Colombians eat approximately 99,555 tons of chicken. It is a main ingredient in typical Christmas dishes, because ajiaco is not ajiaco without chicken and tamale is not tamale without chicken!

 

  1. Groups of friends and coworkers sing and exchange traditional aguinaldos—a fun way to celebrate the end-of-year festivities.

 

  1. On December 31st, in some parts of the country, people burn a doll representing the outgoing year. It is usually made as a family, gathering old clothes and stuffing them with newspaper. The doll is lit on fire after the clock strikes midnight, in order to say farewell to the previous year.

 

  1. María, Jesús, and José are very popular names in Colombia to honor these characters.

 

These are just a few things that Colombians do during the Christmas season to have fun, spend time with family, and celebrate the end-of-year holidays as only can be done in Colombia.

Rate this post
Artículos recomendados

Is Colombia safe?

Every year, millions of visitors are seduced by Colombia’s charms. The country is home to lively cities, stunning landscapes and...

5 Colombian designers, international trendsetters

100% Colombian fashion design has won over runways and red carpets with talented designers like Esteban Cortázar, who has dressed...
Colombian beauty pageants, Queen of beauty, Tourism, Colombian women

Colombia’s Twelve Most Unexpected Beauty Pageants

Appearances can be deceiving and that’s particularly true when it comes to beauty pageants, which are not all about looks....
Trivia what is Colombia known for? | Colombia Country Brand

What is Colombia known for? Find the answers to these and more questions you’ve always wondered about this amazing country!

Did you know that Colombia is the only country in South America that has two coastlines, one in the Pacific...
Colombian destinations, Colombia off-the-beaten-track, Colombian secret destinations, Colombia tourism

Five distant Colombian destinations you must visit

Colombia is irresistible for tourists and with its beaches, jungles, deserts, mountains and cities, there is something for everyone. But...

Colombia, the land where cocoa production is ‘Cacao Fino de Aroma’

Cocoa is a product originated in América, an ancestral crop related to our culture.

Everything you need to know about Cartagena’s Hay Festival

Cartagena prepares to host the tenth edition of Colombia´s most important literature festival. Here’s what you should know.
Folklore, Colombian folklore, Culture

Folklore

There are a variety of cultural expressions that show Colombian idiosyncrasy and help preserve our history, culture and folklore. Among...
portadajuegos

How to play Colombia’s favorite childhood games

Most of us remember the games that defined our childhood and find ourselves filled with nostalgia every time we pass...
pergamino, amor perfecto, abaco café y libros, macondo postres y café, la canoa café cultural, coffee, coffee beans, coffee shops Colombia, places to drink coffee in Colombia

The best cafés in Colombia to enjoy a coffee

Everyone loves Colombia’s Juan Valdez coffee shops, with their tintos, malteadas and cappuccinos on every corner and their familiar cakes...