Christmas in Colombia

Colombians love to party, so Christmas celebrations are anything but boring, involving games, jokes, caroling, dancing, and other fun activities.

Americans are famous for starting Christmas preparations early, but they aren’t alone – Colombians also can’t wait to begin the celebrations. Many locals set up nativity scenes and decorate houses as early as October.

Colombians are fond of lights in all forms – candles, string lights, lanterns, or fireworks. Colombian streets at night are lit up in all rainbow colors, radiating the Christmas spirit.

A Bright Celebration

Fairy lights are in no way unique to Colombia, but the abundance and creativeness of Colombian holiday illumination are impressive. From mid-October to late January, every street shines in a myriad of lights.

Like Americans who love to drive around the neighborhood looking at decorations, Colombians often walk around the town or take new bus routes to appreciate the locals’ effort to create a festive atmosphere.

Colombian towns take pride in their decorations – every historical landmark, park, and shopping mall is lit up, featuring Santa, reindeer, and snowmen sculptures. On Christmas Eve, locals and tourists can view a fantastic firework show.

December 7 in Colombia is known as the Day of the Little Candles when all Colombians light small candles and place them in front of their homes. The path of candles supposedly lights Virgin Mary’s way to Bethlehem.

Wandering the streets on the Day of the Little Candles is a magical experience Colombians never miss.

The Alborada in Medellin

Alborada is a festival held in Medellin, marking the beginning of winter and the Christmas season. Colombians fancy any celebration and happily fund the festival themselves, not relying on local authorities.

The Alborada tradition is recent – the first festival took place in 2003 and initially had nothing to do with Christmas.

On November 25, members of the Cacique Nutibara paramilitary unit were demobilized and received a lot of fireworks from the residents of districts under their control.

The paramilitary unit members decided to celebrate the demobilization six days after by lighting fireworks, and the custom has stuck. Over the years, it became integral to Colombian Christmas season celebrations.

Some city districts host funfairs, markets, and performances, but many locals prefer to spend the night watching the lights from the surrounding hills. The pictures from an elevated spot are worth the hiking.

Unfortunately, the tradition often raises controversy because some locals are concerned about fire safety.

Praying the Novena

Novena is a nine-day period before Christmas when Colombians gather with family to pray, sing Christmas carols, and indulge in traditional food.

Interestingly, Easter novena is observed in many countries, but the Christmas novena tradition is unique to Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador.

The idea of the tradition is to embrace the holiday spirit and mark Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.

The prayer book is passed around the family members for everyone to read aloud. In between biblical readings, Colombians chat or play games.

Typically, the hosts cook bunuelos and natilla, a Colombian custard dessert with cinnamon. Tamales, a Mexican dish made with meat, beans, and cheese in corn dough, are also on the menu. Most Colombians drink wine, but in moderation.

Novena in Colombia resembles a little Christmas celebration but shorter – after all, partying for nine days in a row is tiring even for Colombians.

Christmas Dinner in Colombia

Colombians place great importance on festive foods, and local recipes can impress any gourmand. Colombian Christmas dinner starts with appetizers – bunuelos, deep-fried cheese balls with a crunchy crust, are all-time locals’ favorite.

Another traditional snack is empanadas, puff pastries filled with meat and rice. Some snacks are sweet, such as hojuelas – fried batter dusted with sugar powder. Colombians sometimes dip hojuelas in jam or custard.

Dulce de Nochebuena, translating as Christmas Eve dessert, is a mix of tropical fruits in syrup. The dish doesn’t require advanced cooking skills, but the result is delicious regardless.

Colombians don’t mind eating sweets before the main entrée and enjoy Dulce de Buena and hojuelas throughout the first hours of the celebration. However, they try not to overeat because the best dishes are yet to come.

One of the main entrees is ajiaco, a soup made from potatoes, corn, and minced chicken. Another popular soup is sancocho, made with meat, potatoes, yuca palm leaves, plantains, and corn.

Tamales, meat with vegetables wrapped in banana leaves, are a must on every Colombian Christmas table. The dish requires long cooking to soften the banana leaves, but the result is always worth it.

Afterward comes the most delicious, savory dish of the Colombian Christmas feast, the lechona. This slow-roasted pork shank in dark ale glaze is usually stuffed with vegetables, rice, and spices.

No Christmas feast can be complete without sweet treats, and Colombians are known for having a sweet tooth.

The Colombian traditional Christmas dessert is natilla, custard cake with cane sugar. Many Colombians eat rice pudding with cinnamon, vanilla, cane sugar, and raisins.

Wine and beer are always in abundance, but the star of the show is a tropical variation of eggnog with orange juice, sugar, egg whites, lime juice, and aguardiente, the Columbian traditional alcoholic drink.

Christmas dinner in Colombia is a time for family bonding. Typically, Colombians invite not solely immediate family members but also aunts, uncles, cousins, and other extended family members.

Cooking for such a large family is challenging, so women usually gather to cook together. After dinner, people either go to church or exchange gifts.

On Christmas Day, Colombians relax after partying all night long and eat leftovers that are typically plentiful.

Nativity Scenes

Nativity scenes are the only Christmas decoration that can compete in popularity with fairy lights in Colombia.

Nativity scenes originated in 13th-century Italy and traditionally displayed Mary, Joseph, and shepherds surrounding Jesus’ crib. Sometimes, they also feature the Magi and farm animals.

Nativity scenes in Colombian shopping malls, churches, and other public places are often life-sized and ornate, made by local artisans. Meanwhile, every Colombian home has a small nativity scene in the window.

Midnight Mass

Many Colombians attend the Midnight Mass known as Misa de Galo on Christmas Eve.

Colombia is famous for its unique churches, such as the Las Lajas in Pasto, rising over a canyon, and Zipaquira Salt Cathedral in Cundinamarca, built inside an underground tunnel.

However, most Colombians attend their local church services instead of traveling around. The Midnight Mass usually begins at midnight and ends late at night, so Colombians eat well beforehand to prepare for the long service.

Aguinaldos

Aguinaldos are games Colombians play during the novenas. The word “aguinaldos” is derived from Latin for compensation, and such etymology makes perfect sense because the game winners receive gifts for their success.

Typically, Colombians play a different game every night and distribute gifts on Christmas Eve. One of the most popular games is Beso Robado, a couples’ game where partners try to steal a kiss from each other.

Dar y No Recibir is a fun game that requires immense attention. The idea is to refrain from anything that people from the opposing team hand you during the dinner.

For example, if you take a basket of bread handed by someone from the enemy team, they earn a point. Another fun Colombian Christmas game is Estatua – the goal is to surprise an opponent while they are in a ridiculous position.

When you notice someone in an awkward position, you should shout “estatua,” an equivalent of “freeze.” The person must remain in the position until you tell them it’s enough; otherwise, they lose a point.

Day of The Innocents

December 28 in Colombia is celebrated as the Day of Holy Innocents, which is essentially Colombian April Fool’s Day. People replace sugar with salt, put notes on someone’s back, and do other foolish things to cause laughter.

However, this day has a sad history, commemorating the day when King Herod ordered his men to execute all infant boys in Bethlehem, trying to find Jesus.

A Magi told Herod that a new king would soon be born in Bethlehem, and Herod responded that he wanted to find the messiah to worship him.

However, God warned the Magi about Herod’s intentions in a dream, and the Three Wise Men decided not to disclose Jesus’ location.

Instead, Magi warned Mary and Joseph, allowing them to escape on time, but they could not save other infant boys in the town from death.

Colombians, being optimistic and lighthearted people, decided to commemorate this sad day and honor the dead with smiles.

A Tropical Christmas

December is a warm month in Colombia, so the Christmas experience is entirely different from the winter wonderland most Americans expect. Instead of skiing and building snowmen, Colombians soak in the sun and surf the waves.

You’re unlikely to come across decorated palm trees of Santa sand sculptures like in Brazil on a Colombian beach but may encounter a few locals wearing Santa hats.