Tyler Brooks
Día de las Velitas, or Day of the Little Candles, is a beloved Colombian tradition celebrated annually on 7 December. The day is marked by the lighting of candles and lanterns in homes, streets, and public spaces, filling the country with beautiful light displays. The celebration, which holds religious significance for Catholics, commemorates the Immaculate Conception of Mary, with the following day, 8 December, observed as Immaculate Conception Day. While the holiday originated as a Catholic tradition, it has evolved into a cultural and social event that brings people of all backgrounds together to celebrate with music, food, and festive cheer, marking the start of the holiday season in Colombia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 7 December |
| Alternate date | 8 December |
| Location | Colombia |
| Traditions | Lighting candles and lanterns, fireworks, competitions, feasting, singing, parades |
| Religious significance | Immaculate Conception of Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary |
| Syncretism | Catholic candlelight tradition combined with indigenous belief in the protective power of fire against panthers |
| Syncretic figures | Christmas Panther |
| Syncretic practices | Displaying panther sculptures surrounded by lit candles |
| Syncretic locations | Rural pueblos of Quindio |
| Syncretic timing | December date coincides with Hanukkah for Jewish Colombians |
| Syncretic extension | Celebration initiates Christmas season, which anticipates carnival season |
| Syncretic expression | Las Cuatro Fiestas, El Emperadorcito, Las Piragua |
| Syncretic objects | Terra-cotta, cloth, plastic sculptures |
| Syncretic activities | Extended shopping mall hours, late-night museum visits |
| Syncretic food | Chocolate with fritters, tamales, arepas, empanadas, custard, Christmas desserts |
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What You'll Learn
- The Day of the Little Candles is celebrated on 7 December
- The day is also known as Noche de las Velitas or Día de las Velitas
- The day marks the unofficial start of the Christmas season in Colombia
- The celebration involves lighting candles and lanterns in homes and public spaces
- The day is a cultural, social and religious event in Colombia
The Day of the Little Candles is celebrated on 7 December
The Day of the Little Candles, or El Día de las Velitas, is a beloved Colombian tradition celebrated annually on 7 December. The day commemorates the Catholic feast of the Immaculate Conception of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, which is celebrated on the following day.
The celebration involves lighting candles and lanterns in front of houses or in public spaces. This tradition is common across Colombia, but the timing varies depending on the region. In cities like Bogotá, Cali, and Pereira, people start lighting candles when night falls on 7 December. In Caribbean cities like Cartagena and Barranquilla, people begin at dawn on 8 December and continue the celebration until the next day. The candles used are typically small and colourful, and each person usually lights several candles, sometimes in honour of loved ones or deceased family members. Handmade paper or glass lanterns are also part of the tradition.
The day is considered an unofficial start to the Christmas season in Colombia, with families gathering to share food and drinks, sing songs, and hold carol events and live nativity scenes. It is a time for gratitude, especially within families, and an opportunity for new beginnings before the new year.
In the municipality of Quimbaya, the community holds a Candle and Lantern Festival, where neighbourhoods compete to produce the most spectacular lighting arrangements. The Quimbayan Christmas Panther, believed to have derived from the Spanish colonialists' belief that fire kept panthers away, is exhibited in different forms and surrounded by lit candles.
The Day of the Little Candles is a joyful community celebration enjoyed by Colombians of all backgrounds, bringing people together with music, food, and festive cheer.
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The day is also known as Noche de las Velitas or Día de las Velitas
The Day of the Little Candles, or Immaculate Conception Eve, is known in Spanish as Día de las Velitas or Noche de las Velitas. It is a widely observed religious holiday in Colombia, celebrated on 7 December on the eve of the Immaculate Conception. The day is marked by lighting candles and lanterns, which are placed on windowsills, balconies, porches, sidewalks, streets, parks, and squares. The lighting displays are accompanied by music, food, and festivities, and the day is seen as a symbol of hope, unity, and warmth.
Día de las Velitas is celebrated throughout Colombia, but traditions vary across regions and cities. In the municipality of Quimbaya, in the Quindío Department, the Candles and Lanterns Festival (Fiesta Nacional del Concurso de Alumbrados con Velas y Faroles) is held annually on 7 and 8 December. Each neighbourhood competes to produce the most spectacular lighting arrangements, attracting visitors from all over Colombia. The festival features the Quimbayan Christmas Panther, an indigenous figure recognised by native and mestizo communities in the region.
In some places, such as the Caribbean region of Colombia, the lighting of candles and lanterns takes place in the early hours of 8 December before sunrise. Devout Catholics wake up early or stay up all night to celebrate with their families, lighting candles together before returning to bed. In other areas, such as the Paisa region, the celebration occurs several nights before 8 December, believed to be influenced by Hanukkah as many paisas are of Jewish descent.
The celebration of the Night of the Little Candles dates back to 7 December 1854, when Pope Pius IX defined the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary as dogma. On this day, Catholics around the world lit candles and torches, expressing their hope for an official declaration that the Virgin Mary was free from original sin at the moment of her conception.
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The day marks the unofficial start of the Christmas season in Colombia
The Day of the Little Candles, known as Noche de las Velitas, or Día de las Velitas in Spanish, is celebrated every year on the 7th of December in Colombia. The day marks the unofficial start of the Christmas season in the country. It is a widely observed religious holiday that is celebrated on the eve of the Immaculate Conception, which is a public holiday in Colombia. The day commemorates the occasion of the Immaculate Conception of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, occurring on 8 December.
The celebration of the Day of the Little Candles involves lighting candles and lanterns in front of houses or other public places. People place these candles and paper lanterns on windowsills, balconies, porches, sidewalks, streets, parks, and squares. The timing of when the candles are lit varies across Colombia, with some lighting them on the evening of 7 December, while others light theirs at midnight on 8 December. In cities like Bogotá, Cali, and Pereira, people start lighting candles when night falls on 7 December. On the other hand, in Caribbean cities like Cartagena and Barranquilla, people begin at dawn on 8 December and continue the celebration until the next day.
The day is filled with music, food, and festive cheer. Families gather to celebrate, sharing meals and drinks. Traditional dishes include chocolate with fritters, tamales, arepas, empanadas, and custard. There are also numerous events, including fireworks shows, horseback riding, concerts, light shows, and live performances. The city of Medellín, for example, turns on its Christmas lights and hosts the Desfile de Mitos y Leyendas (Myths and Legends Parade), where Colombian legends come alive through floats, dancers, and musicians.
Día de las Velitas is a unique cultural, social, and religious event in Colombia, bringing people of all backgrounds together. It is a symbol of hope, unity, and warmth, lighting up the streets and hearts of Colombians. The day holds spiritual significance, with Catholics honouring the Archangel Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus. It is also a time for reflection, gratitude, and setting intentions for the new year.
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The celebration involves lighting candles and lanterns in homes and public spaces
The Day of the Little Candles, or El Día de las Velitas, is a beloved Colombian tradition celebrated annually on 7 December. The day is marked by the lighting of candles and lanterns in homes and public spaces, with beautiful light displays filling the streets. The celebration combines the colonialist Catholic tradition of using candlelight to honour the Immaculate Conception with the local Quimbaya tribe's belief in the protective power of fire against panther attacks.
In cities like Bogotá, Cali, and Pereira, people start lighting candles when night falls on 7 December, while in Caribbean cities like Cartagena and Barranquilla, the custom is to begin at dawn on 8 December and continue the celebration until the following day. The candles used are usually small and colourful, made of wax, and it is common for each person to light several candles, with the belief that a candle should be lit for each loved one. Handmade lanterns, crafted from paper or glass, are also part of the tradition.
The lighting of candles and lanterns takes place in homes, on windowsills, balconies, and porches, as well as in public spaces such as sidewalks, streets, parks, and squares. In neighbourhoods throughout Colombia, there is a sense of competition to produce the most spectacular lighting arrangements, attracting visitors from all over the country. The candles and lanterns illuminate not only the streets but also the hearts of Colombians, as the day is considered a symbol of hope, unity, and warmth.
In addition to the lighting of candles and lanterns, the Day of the Little Candles is celebrated with an abundance of food and drinks, bringing extended families together. Traditional dishes include chocolate with fritters in the Caribbean region, while in Bogotá, barbecues, tamales, arepas, and empanadas are common. Sweet dumplings or custards are also enjoyed during the festivities. Music and songs are an integral part of the celebration, with traditional songs like "Las Cuatro Fiestas", "El Emperadorcito", and "Las Piragua" filling the air.
The Day of the Little Candles holds both religious and cultural significance in Colombia. For Catholics, it is an occasion to honour the Virgin Mary and her Immaculate Conception, with ceremonies, hymns, and prayers dedicated to her. It is also a time for families to come together and express gratitude, especially in the familial sense, and to commemorate loved ones who have passed away.
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The day is a cultural, social and religious event in Colombia
The Day of the Little Candles, or El Día de las Velitas, is a cultural, social and religious event in Colombia. It is celebrated annually on December 7, the eve of the Immaculate Conception, which is a public holiday in the country. The day marks the unofficial start of the Christmas season and is a joyful community celebration for people of all backgrounds.
The day is celebrated by lighting candles and lanterns in front of houses or in public places. People place these candles and lanterns on windowsills, balconies, porches, sidewalks, streets, parks and squares. The lighting of candles and lanterns usually begins at sunset on December 7, but in cities in the Caribbean region, it is customary to start at dawn on December 8. The candles used in the celebration are typically small and colourful, made of wax. It is believed that each person lights several candles, with one candle lit for each loved one.
The day is also celebrated with music, food and festive cheer. Families gather to share meals, with dishes such as chocolate with fritters, tamales, arepas, empanadas, and sweet dumplings or custards. There are also fireworks shows, concerts, parades, and other events. In Bogotá, the Colpatria tower lights up, and shows are held in the Plaza de Bolívar. The city's museums, stores, and shopping malls often extend their opening hours and hold live concerts. Medellín also turns on its Christmas lights, and the Desfile de Mitos y Leyendas (Myths and Legends Parade) takes place, with Colombian legends coming to life in the form of floats, dancers, and musicians.
The day is considered a spiritual experience for many, marking the beginning of a religiously important month. It is also a time for reflection, gratitude, and setting intentions for the new year. For Catholics, it is a day to honour the Virgin Mary and her Immaculate Conception, as well as to commemorate the announcement by Archangel Gabriel that she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus. In addition to lighting candles, people may hang white and blue flags with her image on their windows or balconies, as a symbolic gesture of welcome and homage.
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Frequently asked questions
The Day of the Little Candles is celebrated on the 7th of December.
The Day of the Little Candles is celebrated in Colombia.
The celebration involves lighting candles and lanterns in front of houses or other public places.
The day commemorates the Catholic feast of the Immaculate Conception, which is celebrated on the following day, 8 December.
In Bogotá, the Colpatria tower lights up and shows are held in the Plaza de Bolívar. People also organise barbecues or prepare large traditional dishes for dinner, such as tamales, arepas, and empanadas.
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