Day of the Little Candles - Colombia

December 7th is a holiday in Colombia. This is the eve of the Immaculate Conception and called Dia de las Velitas (Day of the Little Candles.) On this day, after dark, everyone in the country lights candles in their windows and in parks, they light lanterns in and outside of their homes, and they turn on their Christmas lights to mark the official beginning of the Christmas season. I compare it to how it is a big faux pas in the US to have your Christmas lights on before Thanksgiving is done.

I was lucky to experience this holiday while in Bogota last December and it was a really beautiful and heart warming tradition to experience. After the sun set, everyone in the city took to the parks with their families and friends. They sat in small circles and just enjoyed the time to be together. There were tiny multi-colored candles on every solid surface and the parks and green areas were all absolutely full. With the candles and the Christmas lights on, everything glowed and everyone seemed really happy. Definitely a tradition worth keeping in Colombia!

-Amber