If you have ever been to Colombia in December, you know that the Christmas holiday season here is an especially vibrant and joyful time. The celebration lasts throughout the month, and paisas in particular are so excited that they set off fireworks as soon as the calendar turns to December 1st!
These are some of the unique traditions and customs that you’ll get to experience if you are in Colombia during what many say is the most magical time of the year:
- Día de las Velitas (Day of the Little Candles): On December 7th, Colombians light candles and lanterns in their homes, streets, and public spaces to honor the Virgin Mary and the Immaculate Conception. This tradition also marks the official start of the Christmas season.
- Novenas (Nine Days of Prayer): From December 16th to 24th, Colombians gather with their family, friends, and neighbors to pray, sing carols, and play games. Each night, a different household hosts the novena, which is based on a litany of prayers written by a Catholic priest over three centuries ago. This tradition is so important you’ll even see entire community buildings gathering to do it together.
- Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: The main celebration of Christmas in Colombia takes place on the night of December 24th, when families gather for a midnight feast, exchange gifts, and attend mass. The feast typically includes dishes such as roasted pork, tamales, the custard-like dessert natilla, and buñuelos, a very popular fried cheese ball. Then on December 25th, Colombians enjoy a more relaxed day with their loved ones and can often be found visiting parks, zoos, or cinemas.
- New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day: Much like in the rest of the world, Colombians welcome the new year with fireworks, music, dancing, and champagne. Some of the unique customs here include eating 12 grapes at midnight, wearing yellow underwear for good luck, and carrying a suitcase around the block for travel opportunities. The following day on January 1st, Colombians typically celebrate with their family and friends and can often be found eating ajiaco (a chicken and potato soup) or sancocho (a meat and vegetable stew).
There are plenty of new and innovative takes on these holiday classics that make them appropriate for anyone following a vegan diet, and of course I can tell you where to find them!
Día de las Velitas (Day of the Little Candles)
Christmas Lights That You Have To See to Believe
One thing that should be on every traveler’s bucket list are the world-famous Christmas lights of Medellín. Known locally as Alumbrados Navideños, this highly-anticipated seasonal event started in 1955 and is organized by EPM, the local utility company. Not only is it arguably the most acclaimed Christmas light display in the world, but it also occurs during one of the dryest periods of the year!
The lights are usually on from the end of November through early January, and feature different designs each year, with the primary location being Parques del Río (River Park). The 2023 theme was a tribute to 100 years of Disney, and featured characters such as Cinderella, Dumbo, The Lion King, Moana, Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, and many more.
Alumbrados Navideños (Christmas lights) at Parques del Río in Medellín
You can also find lights in other parts of the city, with many neighborhood parks lit up with their own theme and plenty of holiday accents in restaurants and cafés. You'll even find entire apartment buildings that have strung lights throughout their exterior, and it’s highly recommended that you dedicate at least one of the often warm December nights to exploring and taking in the festive atmosphere!
Alumbrados Navideños (Christmas lights) in Envigado
Even the restaurants get festive
So do the apartment buildings
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
The holiday season is reason enough to visit the city, but if you need more inspiration, download the FREE 16-page The Insider's Guide to Visiting Medellín. It's a great way to start planning your trip to the City of Eternal Spring no matter what time of the year you visit.
To download the guide and learn how I can help you have an authentic and unforgettable Medellín experience while saving time and money, click here:
Of course Medellín isn't the only magical city during December, and if you want to explore more of the country while you are here, check out Tomplanmytrip. They make it easy to fall in love with Colombia with their impressive selection of itineraries for almost anywhere else you'd want to go in this beautiful country, and just like my own recommendations, everything has been curated and vetted so you'll only get the best providers and activities.
Thank you for reading, enter your email address below to be notified of future blogs, and I hope you enjoy the magic (especially in December) of Medellín!
- Jason ✨🇨🇴