As in other Latin American countries, in Colombia they invest all passion and temperament not only in work but also in rest . The holidays of Colombia, regardless of whether they are secular or religious, national or regional, are held on a grand scale, very bright, colorful.
As in other Latin American countries, in Colombia they invest all passion and temperament not only in work but also in rest . The holidays of Colombia, regardless of whether they are secular or religious, national or regional, are held on a grand scale, very bright, colorful. Any tourist who wants to get the fullest impression of Colombia as a country, should try to choose the time of visiting this country in such a way as to get on any of its holidays.
By the way, something similar to Colombia with the post-Soviet space - if the holiday falls on a Sunday, the next Monday after him becomes a day off.
Religious holidays
Colombia is a secular country (officially the church is separated from the state here). Nevertheless, most of the holidays of Colombia holidays are associated with the Christian religion, since more than 95% of the population professes Catholicism.
Official holidays are:
- January 6 - Baptism;
- March 19 - the day of St. Joseph (Joseph the betrothed, betrothed husband of the Mother of God)
- Passionate Thursday and Good Friday are the days of the pre-Easter week; during Good Friday, a theatrical performance is held, telling about the last hours of Christ's life, including his journey to Calvary and the crucifixion;
- May 13 is the day of St. Mary;
- June 1 - Ascension of the Lord;
- June 22 - Corpus Christi (the feast of the body of Christ); is celebrated after the Spirit's day (Trinity); On this day, believers hold festive processions with songs and dances, dressing up in national costumes;
- June 29 is the day of Peter and Paul;
- August 15 - Assumption of the Virgin Mary;
- December 8 is the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (this holiday, like the very fact of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, is not recognized as Protestant currents);
- December 25 - Christmas.
New Year traditions
Celebrated in Colombia and "secular" holidays. For example, the state holiday and a day off are the New Year. It is celebrated very colorful. Most Colombians meet him on the streets. Festive processions and carnivals are held in almost all Colombian cities. The local grandfather Frost is called Pope Pasquale, but he is by no means the main character of the New Year's Eve: one of the most important roles is assigned to the Old Year.
He goes around the city on stilts, tells the children funny stories. In some places, a scarecrow is tied to the stilts, which is burned at midnight on the square. Meet the New Year in yellow underwear - it is believed that this will bring good luck for the next year. In addition, it is necessary to make 12 wishes at midnight and one after another to swallow 12 grapes, so that these wishes will come true.
National holidays
In addition to the New Year, the country celebrates such days as:
- The day of the worker's solidarity. He, like ours, is celebrated on May 1.
- On June 20, Independence Day celebrations are held with great scope. On this day in 1810, the former metropolis of New Granada announced its independence from Spain. However recognized by other states the country was only 9 years later, in 1819, and to be called Columbia became even later, in 1886. On this day in the capital of the state, there is a military parade, which is hosted by the President of Colombia.
- August 7 marks the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyac River (Boyaka). During this battle, which took place in 1819, an army of 2,500 men, led by Simon Bolivar, defeated an army (in the number of just over 3,000 men) of Spanish General Hosse Barreira, after which Bogota was liberated from the Spanish forces.
- September 20, Colombia celebrates the Day of Friendship. Unofficially it is called the Day of Love and Friendship, it is a kind of Columbian analogue of Valentine's Day.
Other Holidays
In addition to the above-mentioned holidays, which are official holidays, other celebrations are celebrated in Colombia, for example:
- April 23 - Day of language;
- June 5 - Thanksgiving Day;
- June 29 - Wine Battle (celebrated in all Hispanic countries of South America);
- October 16 - Columbus Day;
- November 13 - Independence Day of Cartagena .
Among the most unusual holidays are the Day of Laziness and the Day of Poncho. On the Day of Laziness, a lot of "lazy events" are held, for example, a "sedentary parade", the participants of which move on armchairs and chairs on wheels, and the audience watches this and other events sitting on the chairs brought from home or even lying on deckchairs and other sun loungers . On the Day of the Poncho, too, there are various contests and exhibitions, and once in a poncho they dressed a whole church, making an outfit weighing 720 kg.
Festivals and carnivals
In Colombia, as in all Latin American countries, very colorful carnivals are held: in January - in Pasto (Carnival of the Black and White, which is listed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List), in February - in Barranquilla . During the Holy Week carnivals are held in many cities and settlements.
Besides:
- in February-March in Cartagena there is a film festival, and in March - the Latin American festival of theater and the Caribbean musical festival;
- in August in Medellin held an exhibition of flowers and fashion festival;
- in Santa Marta, August was marked by the Sea Festival;
- in August Velez hosts the Guabina-i-Tiplet National Festival;
- in November in San Martin is the National Festival of Folklore and Tourism.