Día de las Velitas

Today I received the monthly email update about our agency's Colombian program. It had some interesting details on the holidays that Colombians celebrate this time of year. I read that today, December 7th, is Dia de las Velitas, "Day of the Candles." I did some more research on the Internet to learn more about this special day.

Dia de las Velitas is the unofficial start of the Christmas season in Colombia and streets, porches, balconies and public parks are decorated with candles, paper lanterns and Christmas lights. The city illuminates itself in a beautiful glow to honor the Immaculate Conception, which takes place tomorrow on December 8th. Besides the decorations, it's a time where families and neighbors get together to put up light displays, light off fireworks and listen to music. I found a great picture of fireworks above a building in Bogotá at last years Dia de las Velitas and video (below) of the celebration taken at a popular park in Colombia.



Look for more posts this month on other Colombian Christmas celebrations!