Día de las velitas - Little Candles Day

Our hijas, enjoying a noche de velitas!

​One of the most significant, unique and beautiful cultural traditions in Colombia happens on the eve of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic recognition of the immaculate conception of Mary and a public holiday in places around the world). On this night, everyone in towns and cities all over Colombia sets out candles and lanterns to pay hommage to The Virgin Mary. Beyond that it is an opportunity for community building, revelry, and is seen as the festive, but unofficial, beginning of the Christmas season.

We were thankful that this year it did not rain! Our memories form last year were of us realising too late that we were about to get doused and then making a mad dash for home after having been out for about 15 minutes.

Cooking natilla and arepas. Credit Vicente Duque, Duluzar Corporation

 Fireworks would already have been going off since the beginning of December, but on this night they are more prominent. Walking around the streets you will see people gathered outside with neighbours and family, huddling around steaming pots of natilla. (an eggless custard dessert that is traditionally served out of large pots and usually cooked over a wooded fire in the street to the community) You might also see chuzo (shishkebab style chicken breast) being grilled alongside arepas as well. What makes this evening what it is, however, are the candles.
Unofficial street closures (usually by resident parked cars, or yellow tape - also unofficial) allow for the creation of a pedestrian/kid friendly environment, and elaborate candle displays like the ones shown below. 
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Aside from all of this, Colombia goes all out with municipal and domestic lighting it is one of the most vibrant Christmas regions I have been to in all of my travels. They have even in recent years started putting forth their own version of the German Christmas markets, though they are decidedly Colombian, and not at all what you expect to see in a German town at this time of year.

If you are in Colombia on December 7 at any time, your evening plans should entail a walking around of the local barrios, chatting up the locals, looking at the candles  and generally taking in the experience. Traditional music will be blaring, everyone is in a great mood the aguardiente is plentiful (but still gross!) and the streets are alive! If you like to experience culture while travelling, Colombia on this night every year has it all on display.

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