Ben Carter
The Day of the Little Candle, or El Día de las Velitas, is a beloved tradition celebrated in Colombia on 7 December. The day is marked by lighting candles and lanterns in front of houses or in public spaces, filling the streets with beautiful light displays. The day is a widely observed religious holiday, honouring the Virgin Mary and her Immaculate Conception. The celebration dates back to 1854 when Pope Pius IX defined the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary as dogma. While the day is celebrated throughout Colombia, traditions vary across regions and cities. For example, in the Caribbean region, candles are lit in the early hours of 8 December, while in cities like Bogotá, Cali, and Pereira, candles are lit on the night of 7 December. The day is also celebrated in Medellín and Quimbaya, with each city showcasing its unique traditions and light displays. The Day of the Little Candle is considered the unofficial start of the Christmas season in Colombia, bringing communities together to celebrate with music, food, and festive cheer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 7 December |
| Alternative names | Little Candles Day, Immaculate Conception Eve, Día de las velitas, El Día de las Velitas, Candlemas Day |
| Location | Colombia, including Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Pereira, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Cartagena, Quimbaya, Villa de Leyva, Salamina, Caldas |
| Traditions | Lighting candles and lanterns in front of houses or other public places, fireworks, competitions, parades, shows, family gatherings, food, music, dancing, partying |
| Religious significance | Celebration of the Immaculate Conception, honouring the Virgin Mary |
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What You'll Learn
- The day is celebrated on December 7, the eve of the Immaculate Conception
- The holiday is a widely observed religious event in Colombia
- Traditions vary across different cities, towns, and families
- The day is also known as El Día de las Velitas or Candlemas Day
- The celebration is believed to derive from a Hanukkah tradition
The day is celebrated on December 7, the eve of the Immaculate Conception
The Day of the Little Candles, or El Día de las Velitas, is a beloved Colombian tradition celebrated on December 7, the eve of the Immaculate Conception. It is a widely observed religious holiday that marks the unofficial start of the Christmas season in the country.
The day is celebrated by lighting candles and paper lanterns, which are placed on windowsills, balconies, porches, sidewalks, streets, parks, and squares. These lights honour the Virgin Mary and her Immaculate Conception, commemorating the belief that she was conceived without original sin. The lighting of candles also has roots in the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah, as many Colombians, particularly in the Paisa region, are of Jewish descent.
The specific traditions surrounding the day vary across Colombia. In cities like Bogotá, Cali, and Pereira, people start lighting candles when night falls on December 7, while in Caribbean cities like Cartagena and Barranquilla, the custom is to begin at dawn on December 8. In Medellín, the day is celebrated with spectacular light displays in different parks and public plazas. In Quimbaya, the Candles and Lanterns Festival is held, where neighbourhoods compete to create the most impressive lighting arrangements.
December 8, the day after Little Candles Day, is a public holiday in Colombia, known as the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It is a day of celebration for Catholics worldwide, with festivities continuing in Colombia. Families gather to share food, and there are parades, shows, and fireworks displays. It is customary for houses to fly white flags adorned with the image of the Virgin Mary.
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The holiday is a widely observed religious event in Colombia
The Day of the Little Candles, or El Día de las Velitas, is a widely observed 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, with people lighting candles and paper lanterns in honour of the Virgin Mary and her Immaculate Conception.
The holiday is celebrated throughout Colombia, but traditions vary across regions and cities. In cities like Bogotá, Cali, and Pereira, people start lighting candles when night falls on December 7, while in the Caribbean region, including cities like Cartagena and Barranquilla, the lighting of candles and lanterns takes place before sunrise on December 8.
In the municipality of Quimbaya, the Candles and Lanterns Festival is a significant cultural event. Each neighbourhood competes to create the most spectacular lighting arrangements, attracting visitors from all over Colombia. The celebration of the Day of the Little Candles in Quimbaya also includes the indigenous figure of the Quimbayan Christmas Panther, recognised by native and mestizo communities in the region.
The day holds religious significance for Catholics in Colombia, who pay tribute to the Virgin Mary and give thanks for her protection. It is common for families to gather and celebrate together, sharing food and creating an atmosphere of unity and joy. The lighting of candles and lanterns is a central part of the tradition, with people placing them on windowsills, balconies, porches, sidewalks, streets, parks, and squares.
The Day of the Little Candles is a beloved tradition in Colombia, bringing communities together and marking the beginning of the holiday season. It is a symbol of hope, unity, and warmth, illuminating the streets and hearts of Colombians across the country.
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Traditions vary across different cities, towns, and families
In cities like Bogotá, Cali, and Pereira, people start lighting candles when night falls on December 7th. On the other hand, in Caribbean cities like Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Santa Marta, it is customary to begin at dawn on December 8th and continue the celebration until the next day. The Caribbean region is also known for serving chocolate with fritters for those who wake up early to light candles.
The western city of Quimbaya hosts the Candles and Lanterns Festival, a competition between neighbourhoods to create the most spectacular lighting displays. The festival began in 1982 and is held annually on December 7th and 8th. The Quimbayan Christmas Panther, an indigenous figure, is also recognised during the festival.
In Medellín, the Day of the Little Candles is celebrated with light displays in parks and public plazas on December 7th. The following day, the city hosts the traditional Desfile de Mitos y Leyendas (Myths and Legends Parade).
Some families light the candles earlier in the evening on December 7th, while others wait until midnight. Some make wishes for each candle, while others use them to represent something they are thankful for or a combination of both. Strict Catholics may say that the candles symbolise faith, hope, and the protection of the Virgin Mary.
Family gatherings are common, but it is also a popular night for people to go dancing and partying with friends, especially in Cartagena. People also often buy new clothes for the Christmas season and debut them during the Day of the Little Candles celebrations.
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The day is also known as El Día de las Velitas or Candlemas Day
The Day of the Little Candles is also known as El Día de las Velitas in Colombia. It is celebrated on December 7, the eve of the Immaculate Conception, which is a public holiday in the country. The day is marked by the lighting of candles and paper lanterns, which are placed on windowsills, balconies, porches, sidewalks, streets, parks, and squares. This tradition dates back to December 7, 1854, when Pope Pius IX defined the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary as dogma.
El Día de las Velitas is a widely observed religious holiday in Colombia, with people from all over the country participating in the lighting of candles. The day is also celebrated in different ways across various regions and cities. For example, in the municipality of Quimbaya, the Candles and Lanterns Festival is held annually on December 7 and 8, with each neighbourhood competing to produce the most spectacular lighting arrangements.
In some places, such as the Caribbean region of Colombia, the lighting of candles and lanterns takes place in the early hours of December 8 before sunrise. Devout Catholics wake up early and light candles with their family members, sometimes staying up all night to celebrate. The day is also marked by abundant food and drinks, bringing extended families together.
The day is also known as Candlemas Day in some Christian traditions, especially among Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and some mainline Protestant denominations. Candlemas is the Feast of the Presentation or Purification, one of the oldest feasts of the church. It marks the day when Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the temple for the rites of purification and dedication, 40 days after his birth. Traditionally, candles are blessed at Mass on this day and used for the rest of the year, symbolizing Jesus Christ as the Light of the World.
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The celebration is believed to derive from a Hanukkah tradition
The Day of the Little Candles, or Little Candles Day, is a widely observed religious holiday in Colombia. It is celebrated on December 7, the eve of the Immaculate Conception, which is a public holiday in the country. The day is marked by the lighting of candles and lanterns, which are placed in homes and public spaces.
Over time, the Day of the Little Candles in Colombia has combined elements of ancient Jewish and Catholic traditions. The Catholic tradition of using candlelight to celebrate the Immaculate Conception merged with the Quimbaya tribe's belief in the protective power of fire against panther attacks. This syncretism resulted in the inclusion of the Quimbayan Christmas Panther in the Colombian celebrations, with sculptures of the panther surrounded by lit candles.
The Day of the Little Candles holds religious significance for Catholics in Colombia, who honour the Virgin Mary and her Immaculate Conception. It is also a spiritual occasion, marking the beginning of a religiously important month and a time for gratitude and family reunions. The celebration extends beyond religious commemoration, becoming a cultural and social event that brings communities together.
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Frequently asked questions
The Day of the Little Candle is celebrated in Colombia.
The Day of the Little Candle is celebrated on 7 December. In some regions, it is celebrated in the early hours of 8 December.
The Day of the Little Candle, or Little Candles Day, is a religious holiday in Colombia. It is also known as Immaculate Conception Eve and Día de las velitas in Spanish.
The celebration involves lighting candles and paper lanterns in homes, streets, parks, squares and other public spaces. Families gather to share food and drinks, and there are fireworks and competitions.
