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Día de las Velitas (Day of the Little Candles) is a luminous holiday and tradition celebrated in Colombia in early December. Also called the Noche de Velitas (Night of the Little Candles), this celebration occurs on the eve of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated all over the world in unique ways.
This evening not only initiates the December holiday season, it also anticipates carnival season, which generally occurs in February and March. With at least 13 carnivals, these festivals in Colombia top off the extended holiday season and are just one way Colombians celebrate throughout the year.
History and meaning of Día de las Velitas
Día de las Velitas is a unique Latin American expression of a larger celebration in the Catholic world: the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, instituted by Pope Pius IX in the mid-19th century. The concept behind this feast refers to the idea that in order for the Immaculate Conception to occur, the Virgin Mary had to have already been redeemed from sin from the moment she was conceived.
Starting around the fifth century, theologians debated the exact status of Mary’s holiness and grace until an international group of bishops in the 19th century strongly suggested Pius IX declare the concepts behind the Immaculate Conception as official doctrine.
While the pope was in the process of making this feast official, Catholics lit candles and lanterns in support of his intentions. This practice has continued to this day, especially in Colombia.
When is Día de las Velitas in Colombia celebrated?
Depending on the city, Día de las Velitas in Colombia generally takes place around sunset on December 7, the eve of the Immaculate Conception, which is celebrated in predominantly Catholic countries such as Brazil and Spain. The next day is a holy day of obligation in the Catholic world, and an official holiday in some countries, like Colombia and Italy. However, Día de las Velitas is strictly a Colombian holiday.
Some places in Colombia, especially the Antioquía area of the country, start the celebration a few days before. This is likely because the celebration overlaps with Hanukkah, a holiday also noted for its candle lighting—because a considerable number of people from this area, known as paisas, are Jewish.
Today, whether Jewish or Catholic or non-religious, nearly all Colombians enjoy and celebrate Día de las Velitas as a time to come together as a family and community for a beautiful candle-lit evening. Día de las Velitas in Colombia takes place in large cities and small towns, on the streets and in homes. Colombians living in other parts of the world also celebrate in their own way.
How is Día de las Velitas celebrated?
The main activity for Día de las Velitas is the lighting of candles in all forms: single candles of all colors, candles in glass holders, and candles in paper lanterns known as faroles. These faroles are often red and slightly pointed, but they come in other colors, too. Sometimes they are made of glass in the form of flowers or are simply paper bags not unlike the farolitos (little paper lanterns) common at Christmas in New Mexico.
The candles are placed in almost every imaginable area. In houses, they may be in doorways or on windowsills, or lining a walkway or a balcony. Public spaces may have a spontaneous collection of candles in any little spot, such as sidewalks or a planned lighting in a public square. Much larger candle decorations might stretch as far as the eye can see in rows and rows of candles and lanterns, creating a magical feeling.
Each person lights a candle as a way of making a wish for the upcoming year but also expressing gratitude. This act is both a personal and religious one dedicated to the Virgin Mary, a gesture also said to guide the Virgin to homes. However, not everyone who participates in the celebrations is religious, and some simply enjoy setting intentions for the new year and joining in the festivities. Families may gather at home after going out to observe the lit beauty of the night.
As in many other Catholic countries of the world, the next day initiates the Christmas season. To celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, some may go to mass or hang a white flag with an image of the Virgin Mary on it outside their home.
Special local Día de las Velitas celebrations
While most of Colombia enjoys candlelit beauty on Día de las Velitas, that doesn’t mean every place celebrates it the same. Each town or city has its own special way of enjoying this evening meant for reflection, hope, and a renewed sense of spirit.
Bogotá
Situated in the Andes Mountains, Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, features some of its best Christmas decorations on this evening. Traditionally, families stroll around for cultural events, shopping, and admiring Nativity scenes. Bogotá museums, stores, and shopping malls often stay open late on this day, and there may be live concerts.
Medellín
Not only do candles get lit all over Medellín, but the city’s Christmas lights are turned on as well. The Desfile de Mitos y Leyendas (Myths and Legends Parade) is the highlight of the evening for many. Colombian legends come alive in the form of huge floats, costumed dancers, and masked musicians in the carnivalesque event. Fireworks top off the evening in this northwestern city, capital of the Antioquía region.
Barranquilla
Barranquilla was the birthplace of Adolfo Echeverría and a woman named Nury Borrás. Respectively, they authored and sang Las cuatro fiestas (The Four Celebrations), a song honoring the festivities around this time of year in Colombia: Día de las Velitas, Christmas, the new year, and Carnival.
The composition with a Caribbean twist, written in the early 60s, became a popular holiday tune. It can be heard all over Colombia during December and January but is particularly popular on the night of December 7. Echeverría also wrote another song for this special day, Inmaculada. Those from Barranquilla take special pride in the origin of these songs.
Barranquilla residents may get up in the very early morning hours of December 8 to light and place their faroles.
Quimbaya
Located in the northwestern part of Colombia in the coffee growing axis, Quimbaya holds its famous Concurso de Velas y Faroles (Candle and Lantern Contest) every year for Día de las Velitas. Hundreds of craftspeople compete for the prize by creating elaborate, colorful lanterns honoring the Immaculate Conception. The artisans may present their wax-lit creations on an entire street, creating a kind of artistic installation for all to enjoy. There are sometimes as many as 40,000 faroles in the streets of Quimbaya!
Rural areas
In smaller towns, families may prepare traditional food and homemade decorations or go watch a parade. In mountainous regions, folks may light a bonfire after a practical activity that often occurs around this time of year in many parts of the world: collecting wood and kindling.
Enjoy Colombia even more with Rosetta Stone
With winter festivities from December to March and summer celebrations like la Feria de las Flores, Colombia is a special place to visit with friends or loved ones year round.
To help you enjoy your stay and relish Día de las Velitas or any other Colombian celebration even more, download the Rosetta Stone app. On-the-go learning and a handy phrasebook can help you navigate your way through this magical country.