Christmas in Colombia is full of unique rituals and traditions that reunites families and friends.

Main events: 

La alborada

On November 30th we celebrate this event specially in Medellín. Its the way we welcome officially Christmases. At midnight the city is covered with fireworks all over the place and people usually goes to restaurants, apartments, mountains or any place that has a wonderful view of the valley so they can have a good spot to see the shows. 

This tradition is part of the heritage of the narcotraficant past in the city, that and the fact that the fireworks affects the animals are the reasons why a lot of people wants to eliminate this tradition. Even though it is still strong and we have every year. 

7 de Velitas

Every December 7th we light up candles, thanking for everything we have received in the last year and making wishes also, this tradition started being a religious one, where we ask and thank to virgin Marie, now even not religous people participates and do the same, but with the universe, god or whatever/whoever they feel they can thank.

With the years, the tradition got so strong, that it is one of the best dates of december to spend time with friends, family and also to party. We close streets, eat a lot, specially christmas food, light up the candles, the kids plays in the street all together with the neighbors and the adults drink and party until late in the night or even early next day. 

Novenas

This is a religous tradition, for nine days we reunite with our families to make a special ritual, where we sing ¨villancicos´( christmas songs), we pray and we thank. It starts on december 16th and goes until christmas on december 24th. 

Since it is a religious tradition, not all the families does it, but it is still a strong tradition in Colombia. 

Navidad / Christmas

We celebrate our christmas on December 24th. Its is a family tradition, where you reunite with your relatives, share presents, eat a lot of food, buñuelos, natillas, hojaldre, empanadas and much more. 

This day everyone is dressed up fancier with new cloths and the kids are waiting for midnight, because thats the time where ´niño dios¨ or ¨baby jesus¨ brings the presents for them. Once they find them, they open them and play until late while the adults party. 

New years eve

This is the main event of the season. Early in the night we go and spend time with our families, eat, drink, laugh and more. We wait until midnight to celebrate together the welcome of the new year and some people after that likes to go party with friends ( some people stays with their families). 

For this day we have so many traditions as : 

1) wear yellow underwear for the luck. 

2) Eat 12 grapes at midnight, each one with an intention. 

3) Put lentels in our pockets to call the money. 

4) Go around the block with a carry on, to have more trips next year. 

5) We make a toast to celebrate. 

6)Some people brings a little man that is closed to a toy, we call it ¨old year¨and we burn it, with our wished and what we thank for.

6 de Reyes 

This tradition is based on a religious story, where ¨the reyes magos¨ or the three wise men get to the niño Dios. 

So simbolically in Colombia, that they the three wise men get to the kids, and they can some times get a present that day. 

Alumbrados navideños

Christmas lightning are in Colombia a huge tradition. Most of the people put lights on their houses, but also some big cities has huge lights in specific places. Medellín has won several times as one of the top 3 cities in the world with the best public christmas lightning. They are located in different scenarios of the city, are huge and incredible beautiful. 

So the tradition is to dedicate one night to go all over the city checking out all the lights for that year. 

Thsi 2022 Medellín bought the right from Disney for the colombian inspired movie ENCANTO.