Some regions may also close several streets so their citizens can admire the Christmas lights and undertake family activities throughout the evening.Ĭhristmas in Colombia has evolved into an excellent excuse to get together for nine straight nights to eat, drink and generally be merry. The streets come alive with flickering flames.
#Dia de las velitas windows#
These are meant to light the way of the Virgin Mary as she comes to bless their home.Ĭolombians come together to light candles of all shapes and sizes and place them on their balconies, windows or outside their places. On December 7, almost everyone lights hundreds of little candles. The Day of the Candles “ Dia de las Velitas” is another of those traditions that Colombians do every end of the year. There are many shows that take place on this night, live nativity scenes, caroling events, among others.Lights are still the protagonists of these celebrations. Malls, museums, stores, and other public places have extended hours of operation. In Bogotá, the Christmas decorations reach their peak on this day the city, fully decorated, plans late activities for the whole family since most Colombians would be out and about admiring the shows, many streets close to traffic and allow pedestrians to walk freely and stop to admire the light arrangements.
#Dia de las velitas full#
Such religious syncretism is especially visible in the rural pueblos of Quindio where many residents claim full or partial descent from Quimbaya native peoples of the region. It is still a common occurrence to display the symbol of the panther (in the form of sculptures made of terra cotta, cloth, plastic, etc.) in conjunction with the lighting of candles on the night of December the 7th. Thus, in an instance of religious syncretism, the Alumbrado de Navidad and the symbolism of the puma to native peoples were linked. The colonialist's Catholic traditions of using candlelight to celebrate the Immaculate Conception was combined with belief of the local Quimbaya tribe in the effect that fire ( luces de fogota) had in protecting against panther attacks as pumas and other local fauna are believed to fear fire. It is believed that the significance of the puma stems from the arrival of ethnically Spanish colonialists from Antioquia in the region during the 1850s. Belief in the Christmas Panther ( el puma de navidad) has developed throughout the history of the Quimbayan holiday known as the Alumbrado de Navidad (see Feast of the Immaculate Conception), celebrated on the 7th of December in recognition of the Roman Catholic belief in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Quimbayan Christmas Panther is an indigenous figure recognized by native and mestizo communities in the Quindío Department of Colombia.
They also hold numerous events, from firework shows to competitions. On December 8 it is customary for houses to hoist a white flag with the image of the Virgin Mary all day.
On this night, people place candles and paper lanterns on windowsills, balconies, porches, sidewalks, streets, parks and squares in short, everywhere they can be seen, in honor of the Virgin Mary and her Immaculate Conception. This day is the unofficial start of the Christmas season in the country. It is celebrated on December 7 on the eve of the Immaculate Conception, which is a public holiday in Colombia. Little Candles Day ( Spanish: Día de las velitas) is a widely observed traditional holiday in Colombia.