Christmas in
Colombia
Celebrated: December 7 (Día de las Velitas) through December 24
Signature traditions
- 1.Día de las Velitas (Day of the Little Candles) on December 7 — entire neighborhoods line sidewalks, balconies, and windows with candles and paper lanterns
- 2.Novena de Aguinaldos — nine consecutive nights of family prayer, songs, and gathering from December 16-24
- 3.Alumbrados — massive municipal Christmas light displays, the most famous along the Medellín River
- 4.Aguinaldos — traditional small games and bets played among friends throughout the season
- 5.Buñuelos and natilla shared at every gathering
What's on the table
Buñuelos and natilla
Buñuelos are deep-fried cheese fritters — golden, crispy, slightly sweet. Natilla is a firm, sliceable custard made with cornstarch, milk, and panela (raw cane sugar), served in squares with cinnamon. The pairing defines the season.
The iconic decoration
Velitas and the Medellín alumbrados
Small candles in colored paper lanterns line streets and homes from December 7 onward. The municipal Alumbrados Navideños of Medellín — over 35 million LED lights along the river and city center — draw millions of visitors each season.
How gifts are given
El Niño Dios (Baby Jesus) traditionally delivers gifts to children on Christmas Eve. In recent decades, Papá Noel has appeared alongside El Niño Dios in many families through cultural exchange.
Did you know?
Medellín's Alumbrados Navideños are among the world's largest Christmas light displays. Spread along the Medellín River with millions of synchronized LEDs, the show draws over 4 million visitors each season and has been named one of the world's top 10 Christmas spectacles by National Geographic.