Home

Gramática

Vocabulario

Destinos

Programas

Otra Información

Online Activities

Navidad en Colombia

Christmas in Colombia is a fun celebration that gathers the families within the community, as there is a sense of sharing with the community during the Christmas seasons. That sense of sharing has its roots in the Catholic Church, since the Catholic community has made a lasting mark in Colombia history from the colonization of the Spaniards five hundred years ago.

Although there are traditions that rule the celebration, there are some variations across the territory. No matter where you are traveling in the country you will see customs such as the letter to El Niño Dios (Translation: Baby God, or Baby Jesus, there the equivalent to Santa Claus) or the Aguinaldos, which refers to an exchange of gifts between family members or friends. For the children who believe in El Niño Dios, they receive their best gift on the 25th and not earlier because they expect to see the gifts they wanted most brought by El Niño Dios.

December 7th

La Noche de las Velitas

The Christmas season in Colombia starts on December 7th when families light candles in honor of the Virgin Mary. It is celebrated with a display of lights, as each home will light approximately 100 candles on the curb and sidewalk area. City streets and parks are illuminated with large Christmas lights as well.

In Colombia, this is well-known as "la noche de las velitas” (the night of the candles – candlelight night), everything is illuminated with lights, candles, fireworks and little lamps with which we commemorate the moment when the angel appeared in front of the Virgin to request her consent for the conception.

But the lights of this celebration not only are for the living. In many towns, the path to see the lights begins in the cemetery, where the flames represent the prayers for the souls of those who have died. In other places processions with the image of the Virgin are made.

December 8th

The church celebrates the 8th of December as the day of the Immaculate Conception. This is a Colombian National Holiday and a day of Obligation with the church. Colombian families typically start setting up the Christmas tree - which is artificial for ecological reasons. The Christmas tree is decorated with lights and bowls. Families set up Nativity scenes, which are either plastic, or hand crafted figures. Everyone in the family contributes on this day. Christmas carols begin to be sung.

Historical Fact: The origin of this celebration dates back to the XIX century, when Pope Pius IX declared the dogma of the Immaculate Conception and the believers of all the countries ignited torches and candles in honor of Mary’s virginity. This happened because fourteen centuries ago, Nestorian, patriarch of Constantinople, woke up doubts, because it did not seem possible to him that Mary had conceived a son without having had relations with a man. This questioning were reasons for discussion during centuries. Then, to reaffirm its dogmas of faith, the Catholic Church in head of Pius IX instituted the celebration.

The Christmas Tree (El Arbol de Navidad):

As a Christian symbol, the tree dates back to a medieval legend according to which Adam, before dying, sent his son Seth to the door of Paradise to request oil of the tree of the life, but he only obtained a dry branch and the promise that this one would bring the cure for the human race. When Seth returned, his father already was dead, so he planted the dry branch on his tomb, which grew to become a gigantic tree of which Jesus Christ’s cross would be made later.

The custom to adorn trees goes back to the VIII century, when Boniface was sent to Germany to convert the pagans. The monk saw that they invoked their gods under the trees and there they left presents for them. In one Christmas night, the Germans arranged themselves to sacrifice a boy underneath a tree. Boniface, filled of wrath, cut the trunk, but this one grew again immediately. The monk explained this miracle as a symbol of the new life that Jesus brought to the world; it was not necessary, then, to spill more blood. This way he saved the boy and he obtained a massive conversion.

From that moment, the fir trees began to be adorned; the gifts that are offered in their branches are symbols of the gifts that baby Jesus brought.

The Christmas tree arrived at America with the Germanic soldiers who came to support the British army during the Independence Revolution. Although the victory was for the men of George Washington, the tradition of the Germanic tree persisted in the United States and from it extended there to the rest of the continent.

The manger (El Pesebre):

This most beautiful custom had its origin in a grotto of Greco, small Italian town, in the XII century, when St. Francis of Asisi gathered the farmers to act live, and to the light of torches, the birth in Bethlehem.

The Saint dreamed about one massive Christmas, full of celebrations, in which nobody escaped to celebrate the Savior’s birth. For that reason he pleaded the emperor who dictated a law so that on Christmas Eve "all who could, throw wheat and other grains on the road" in order for the birds to rejoice also on that day, and he crossed the villages of the country preaching his joy and calling to all the creatures to praise Christ.

The manger has eight main figures: baby Jesus, the Virgin, Saint Joseph, the donkey, the ox and the three wise men, although nowadays, it also include figures like shepherds and sheep. All this has a particular meaning. For example, the donkey represents the humility whereupon Jesus arrived to the world, and the three wise men represent the recognition of all the people the sovereignty of the Lord.

The scene of the birth is known him with the names of "Bethlehem" in Hebrew, which means “house of bread”, and "manger", from the Latin 'praesepem' that means "box for the food of the animals". The children are used to putting in the box the letter for baby Jesus, a message in which they show all its love and gratitude to him, promise to him to behave well and they request the gifts to him that wish.

The Carols (Los Villancicos):

The carols are popular songs, generally of farmer origin, with which the town participated of the solemn made ecclesiastical celebrations around the birth of the Son of God. Many of them had their origin in Europe and arrived to America, where they were accompanied by Indian flutes (chirimías), drums and maracas.

Cradle songs, stories of shepherds, praises to the new born baby, comprise the Christmas traditions today anywhere in the world and in any language you can celebrate and adore the most important character of the history of humanity.

Noche de Paz	El Tamborilero	Rodolfo El Reno
Los Peces en el Río	Campana Sobre Campana	Varios Villancicos

December 16th

From December 16th through December 24th, families usually gather together at night around Nativity scenes to pray and sing carols in the Novena de Aguinaldos.

La Novena de Aguinaldos (Christmas Advent Prayer)

The Novena is a devotion, consisting of a prayer said over nine successive days from December 16th to December 24th. La Novena de Aguinaldos is a preparation or advent prayer for Christmas telling us what had happened through the nine Month pregnancy of the Virgin Mary and Joseph. It is an old Colombian tradition dating from the 1700s, passing from generation to generation without major changes. Over time the traditional wording has been adapted and changed to for newer generations. Whilst the elderly prefer a more traditional prayer.

La Novena de Aguinaldos is a family affair, it's a get-together to enjoy La Navidad (Christmas) around the nativity (or Pesebre in Spanish) that is mostly placed under the Christmas Tree. Sharing this tradition is not always with the family, it's also shared with friends, office colleges, neighbors and even on TV. The Novena de Aguinaldos consists of many prayers followed by a particular day prayer. During and after this Christmas prayer, people are very enthusiastic in the participation of carol singing, accompanied by guitars, tambourines and maracas.

Stages of the Novena de Aguinaldos – from the 16th through to the 24th of December typically around 6pm before Dinner.

The parts of a Novena: Begin with the Sign of the Cross and start with the Prayer for Every Day. Prayer for each day: Kind God of infinite goodness, who so loved the human race that in your Son you gave a token of your love, so that, made human in the womb of a Virgin, he would be born in a manger for our salvation and healing. In the name of all mortals, I give you infinite thanks for such an overwhelming grace. Through Him I offer you the poverty, the humility, and the other virtues of your incarnate Son, begging that through his divine merits, the discomforts of his birth, and the tender tears he shed in the manger, you dispose our hearts with profound humility, burning love, and complete contempt of all worldly goods so that the new-born Jesus find in them his cradle and dwell there eternally. Amen (Pray three Glory be's)   Then there's a prayer for the specific day. 1 Day 1: First Day At the beginning of time the Word was resting in the bosom of his Father, in the heights of heaven. There he was at once the cause and the model of the whole of creation. In these depths of an incalculable eternity dwelt the Son of God before he deigned to descend to earth and take possession of the cave of Bethlehem. There is where we should see the beginnings, which have never begun. From there we should date the genealogy of the Eternal, which has no antecedents, and contemplate the life of infinite contentment that reigned there. The life of the Eternal Word in the bosom of his Father was marvelous indeed, but – mystery sublime! – he sought another dwelling. He sought a created mansion, not because he was lacking in infinite happiness in his eternal mansion, but because his infinite mercy desired the redemption and salvation of the human race, which was impossible to achieve without him. The sin of Adam had offended God, and that infinite offense could not be pardoned except by the merits of God himself. The race of Adam had disobeyed and so merited eternal punishment. To make satisfaction for this fault, it was therefore necessary that God, without leaving heaven, take the form of a man on earth and by obedience to the designs of his Father, expiate that disobedience, ingratitude, and rebellion. For this reason the Eternal Word, burning with a desire to save humankind, resolved to become man and so redeem the guilty. (Continue with Prayer to the Blessed Virgin and the all the prayers) 2 Day 2: Second Day Kind God of infinite goodness… The Eternal Word is about to take on his created nature in the holy house of Nazareth, the dwelling of Mary and Joseph. When the shadow of the divine secret came over her, Mary was alone, absorbed in prayer. She used to spend the silent nighttime hours in intimate union with God, and while she prayed, the Word took possession of his created abode. Nevertheless, he did not arrive unannounced. Before coming he sent a messenger, the Archangel Gabriel, to ask Mary, on God's behalf, for her consent to the Incarnation. The Creator did not wish to bring about this great mystery without the agreement of his creature. That moment was quite solemn. Mary had it in her power to refuse … With what wonderful delights and ineffable pleasures did the Most Holy Trinity wait for Mary to open her lips and pronounce the "Fiat" which must have been a sweet melody to God's ears and which brought her profound humility into conformity with the omnipotent divine will! The Immaculate Virgin has given her consent. The archangel has disappeared. God has clothed himself in a created nature. The eternal will is fulfilled, and creation is complete. The Word has become flesh, and even though still invisible to the world, he already lives among those whom his immense love has come to rescue. The rest as on the first day. 3 Day 3: Third Day Kind God of infinite goodness… In this way the Child Jesus began his incarnate life. Let us consider the glorious soul and the holy body that he took on, and let us profoundly adore them. Admiring first the soul of that Divine Child, let us consider the fulness of the its beatific vision, by which from the first moment of his life Jesus saw the divine essence more clearly than all the angels and was able to read all the hidden knowledge of both past and future. From the soul of the Child Jesus, we now pass to his body, which was a world of marvels, a master work from the hand of God. God wanted it to be small and weak, like that of other children, and subject to all the discomforts of childhood, so that Jesus would resemble us more and share in our humiliations. The beauty of this body of the Divine Child was superior to anything anyone has imagined, and the divine blood that circulated through its veins from the moment of his Incarnation is that which washed away all the stains of our guilty world. Let us ask him to wash away our own stains through the sacrament of penance, so that the day of his blessed Nativity will find us purified, forgiven and ready to receive him with love and spiritual profit. The rest as on the first day. 4 Day 4: Fourth Day Kind God of infinite goodness… Right from the bosom of his mother, the Child Jesus begin to put into practice his eternal submission to God, which he continued through all his life with not the slightest interruption. He loved and adored his Eternal Father and submitted himself to his will. He accepted with resignation all his weakness, all his humiliation, all his distress. Which of us would want to return to such a state with the complete use of reason and reflection? That is how the Divine Child entered upon his painful, humbling course. That is how he began to negate himself before his Father, in order to show us what God deserves from his creature and to expiate our pride, the source of our sins. Do we desire to pray truly? Let us begin by form an idea of what that would be, by contemplating the Child Jesus in the bosom of his Mother. The Divine Child prays constantly in the most excellent way. He does not speak, he does not meditate, he is not consumed by tender emotions. He accepts his very existence with the intention of honoring God; through his prayer and his existence he expresses everything that God deserves and does so in the way God wants to be adored by us. Let us unite ourselves to the adoration of the Child Jesus in the bosom of Mary, let us unite ourselves to his profound sadness, and let this be the first effect of our sacrifice to God. Let us disappear from our own ideas, and let God be everything for us. The rest as on the first day. 5 Day 5: Fifth Day Kind God of infinite goodness… We have already see the life that the Child Jesus led in the bosom of his most pure Mother. Let us see today the life which Mary also led during that same period of time. Mary never stopped aspiring for the moment when she would enjoy that terrestrial beatific vision, the face of the incarnate God. She was about to see that human face which was about to illuminate the heavens for all eternity. She was going to see the filial love in those same eyes whose glances would forever inspire delight in millions of chosen one. She was going to see him in the apparent ignorance of infancy, the special delights of youth, and in the reflective serenity of maturity. Such was Mary's life of expectation, something unheard of in itself, but it did not for that reason cease to be a magnificent model for every Christian life. Let us not be content to marvel at Jesus residing in Mary, but let us think that he also resides in us by essence, potency, and presence. The rest as on the first day. 6 Day 6: Sixth Day Kind God of infinite goodness… Jesus had been conceived in Nazareth, the home of Joseph and Mary, and it was thought he would most naturally be born there. But God had arranged things otherwise. The prophets had announced that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of Judah, city of David. In order for this prediction to be fulfilled, God used a means that seemed to be unrelated to this objective, namely, the order given by the Emperor Augustus that all the subjects of the Roman empire should be registered in their native regions. As descendants of David, Mary and Joseph were required to travel to Bethlehem. Jesus was not ignorant of the place where he was to be born, and in this way he inspired his parents to entrust themselves to Providence and so cooperate in the carrying out of his designs. Observe, interior souls, this way of acting of the Divine Child, because it is very important for the spiritual life. Learn that those who have entrusted themselves to God no longer belong to themselves; they now are to desire only what God desires for them. The rest as on the first day. 7 Day 7: Seventh Day Kind God of infinite goodness… Let us picture now the journey to Bethlehem of Mary and Joseph, who carried with them, still unborn, the Creator of the universe, made man. Let us contemplate the humility and the obedience of that Divine Child, who was of the Jewish race and had loved his people for centuries. Still, with inexplicable predilection, he thus obeyed a foreign prince, who demanded a census of the provincial population, as if there were for the Child in that circumstance something attractive. It was as if he was in a hurry to enroll himself officially and authentically as a subject at the very moment he was coming into the world. The longing of Joseph and the expectation of Mary cannot be expressed in human language. The Eternal Father was, if we may use the expression, wonderfully impatient to give his only son to the world and to see him take his place among visible creatures. The Holy Spirit was burning with the desire to present to the light of day that holy humanity which he himself had formed with divine care. The rest as on the first day. 8 Day 8: Eight Day Kind God of infinite goodness… Joseph and Mary reached Bethlehem and sought lodging in the inns, but they found none, either because all were full already or because they were disregarded due to their poverty. Still, nothing can disturb the interior peace of those whose heart is set on God. If Joseph felt sadness when he was refused lodging in house after house, it was because he was thinking of Mary and the Child. Nevertheless, he also smiled with holy tranquility when he fixed his gaze on his chaste spouse. Also, the noise of each door being closed to them was a melody sweet to the ears of the unborn Jesus. That was what he had come in search of. The desire for these humiliations was what had contributed to his taking human form. Oh Divine Child of Bethlehem! This day, which so many people have spent in festivities and celebrations or resting comfortably in their luxurious mansions, has been for your parents a day of fatigue and troubles of every sort. The spirit of Bethlehem is that of a world that has forgotten God. How many times has that not been our own spirit! Let the sun of December 24 set behind the roofs of Bethlehem, and let its golden rays illuminate the rocky cliffs which surround the town. Uncouth men and women rudely brush aside the Lord in the streets of the Middle Eastern village, and they close their doors when they see his Mother. The vault of the heavens appears purplish above those hills where shepherds kept their flocks. The stars gradually appear, one by one. A few more hours, and the Eternal Word will also appear. The rest as on the first day. 9 Day 9: Ninth Day Kind God of infinite goodness… Dark night has fallen over Bethlehem and its surroundings. Rejected by their fellow men and finding themselves without lodging, Mary and Joseph have left the inhospitable town and taken refuge in a cave at the bottom of the hill. The Queen of Angels was followed by the beast that has served as her humble mount during the journey, and in that cave they found a gentle ox. The Divine Child, unrecognized by his rational creatures, now must turn to the irrational ones, so that they will warm with their breath the frigid atmosphere of that winter night and show him in this way and by their humble attitude the respect and adoration that the town had refused him. But now midnight has arrived, and suddenly we see within the manger, empty a short while ago, the Divine Child that was expected, prophesied, desired for four thousand years with unspeakable longing. His most holy Mother prostrates herself at his feet in a transport of adoration which you cannot imagine. Joseph also draws near and renders homage, thereby inaugurating the mysterious, imponderable role to be played by the supposed father of the Redeemer of the world. The multitude of angels that descends from heaven to contemplate this incomparable marvel makes resound in the air the harmony of that Gloria in Excelsis that is the echo of adoration produced around the throne of the Most High, now made audible for an instant to the ears of poor humanity. Summoned by the angels, the shepherds from roundabout rush to adore the newborn child and to present to him their humble offerings. Already shining in the east is the mysterious star of Jacob, and already on its way to Bethlehem is the magnificent caravan of the Three Magi. Within a few days they will come to put at the feet of the Divine Child their gifts of gold, incense and myrrh, which are symbols of charity, adoration, and mortification. Oh adorable Child! We also, who have made this novena to prepare for the day of your Nativity, want to offer you our humble adoration. Please do not reject it! Come into our souls, come into our hearts, and fill them with love. Kindle in them devotion to your holy childhood. Make it a devotion truly practiced and zealously propagated, so that it will lead us to eternal life, freeing us from sin and sowing in us all the Christian virtues. The rest as on the first day.   Read aloud the specific Novena day prayer.   You then finish the session with individual prayers.   Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Prayer to the Blessed Virgin: For every day Most glorious Mary, who because of your great virtues and especially your humility merited that God himself chose you as his mother, I beg that you yourself prepare my soul – and the souls of all those who at this time make this novena – for the spiritual birth of your adored Son. Sweet mother, impart to me something of the profound recollection and divine tenderness with which you were awaiting his coming, so as to make us less unworthy of beholding him, loving him, and adoring him for all eternity. Amen. (Pray nine Hail Mary's and Glory be's)   Prayer to St. Joseph Prayer to Saint Joseph For every day Most holy Joseph, spouse of Mary and adoptive father of Jesus, I give God infinite thanks, because he chose you for such exalted service and bestowed on you all the gifts fitting for such great excellence. I ask you, by the love you had for the Divine Child, to kindle in me fervent desires to see him and receive him sacramentally, until such time as I see him and enjoy him in his divine essence in heaven. Amen. (Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be)   "Los Gozos" – Aspirations of the Coming of the Child Jesus Los Gozos (Joys) For every day My dear sweet Jesus, my adorable child. Come into our souls! Come without delay! Oh, highest wisdom of the Sovereign God Who has descended to the level of a child! Oh divine infant, come to teach us the prudence which makes us truly wise! Come into our souls! Come without delay! Oh sacred root of Jesse, who on high presents to the world your fragrant balm! Come into our souls! Come without delay! Sweet Child, you have been called Lily of the valley, beautiful flower of the field! Come into our souls! Come without delay! Oh, light of the Orient, Sun of eternal rays, grant that we see your splendor amid the dark shadows. Most precious Child, good fortune of Christians, let your smile shine forth on your sweet lips. Come into our souls! Come without delay! King of the nations, Emmanuel renowned, longing of Israel, Pastor of your flock. Come into our souls! Come without delay! Child who shepherds with gentle crook both the frisky sheep and the placid lamb. Come into our souls! Come without delay! Let the heavens open wide and let fall from on high a dew of blessings and a holy mist. Come, beautiful Child! Come, God made human! Shine, stunning star, Blossom, flower of the field! Come into our souls! Come without delay! Come, for Mary now readies her arms for her Child, who will come in just a short while! Come, for Joseph now with sacred longing makes ready to become a sanctuary of your love. Come into our souls! Come without delay! Help of the weak, refuge of those in pain, consolation of the grieving, light of those in exile! Light of my life, my master adored, my constant friend, my brother divine! Come into our souls! Come without delay! Come before eyes, which are full of love for you. Kissing now your feet, kissing now your hands, prostrate on the earth, I reach out my arms to you. Even more than my words, my cry speaks volumes to you. Come into our souls! Come without delay! Come, our Savior, the one we have long desired. Come into our souls! Come without delay!   The Prayer to the Child Jesus Prayer to the Child Jesus For every day Remember, sweet Child Jesus, that you spoke to the venerable Margaret of the Blessed Sacrament, and through her all those devoted to you, these words which are so consoling for our exhausted, hurting humanity: "Everything you desire, ask for it through the merits of my infancy, and nothing will be denied you." Full of confidence in you, Jesus, who are truth itself, we come to express all our misery. Help us to lead a holy life in order to attain a blessed eternity. Grant us, by the infinite merits of your incarnation and your childhood, the grace of which we are in so much need. (Pause… "In your heart ask for your own prayer"). We give ourselves over to you, all-powerful Child, certain that our hope will not be in vain and that by virtue of your divine providence you will receive our plea and grant it. Amen

Videos of Novenas: Example A is showing the text of the parts of the Novena. Example B is showing the people in a Novena Day 1 (Example A, Example B) Day 2 (Example A, Example B) Day 3 (Example A, Example B) Day 4 (Example A, Example B) Day 5 (Example A, Example B) Day 6 (Example A, Example B) Day 7 (Example A, Example B) Day 8 (Example A, Example B) Day 9 (Example A, Example B) (PDF booket Spanish, English)

Los Juegos de Aguinaldos (The Christmas Gift Games)

This beautiful custom consists of betting "gifts" that the loser of the game offers the winner during the previous days to Christmas. It dates from the Middle Ages, when, in the carnival celebrations, the men got dressed as women and the women as men, to request the gifts. This custom was also performed by the noble, who offered fine horses or money to their relatives and friends.

In the XV century, the conquistadors, enriched by American gold, donated golden altars to the beautiful churches as Christmas gift. The custom became popular and it became a Christmas tradition during the Colonial period.

The English translation of Aguinaldo is Christmas Gift, and it can mean many things depending on the Spanish speaking country where you are from. For example, in Mexico, it refers to the Christmas monetary bonus that people often receive. In Colombia, there is a fun game that people begin to play 9 days before Christmas during the Novena. It is one of the oldest Christmas Traditions in Colombia. The game is often called just Aguinaldos, and though there seems to be some variety in how people play it, the idea remains the same.

You make a agreement with one person, or perhaps several people to play a specific "Mis Aguinaldos" game. Before you play a game, you agree with one or more people to play a particular Aguinaldo game -- rules below. You decide who be on which side of the game and you decide on either a prize for the winner or a punishment for the loser. You seal this agreement with a "Pinky Promise", by linking pinky fingers with your opponent(s), and then cutting through to place the bet or agreement.

The bets are in innocent games. Some of most common are:

December 24th

Christmas Eve, or Nochebuena, when Colombians have their main Christmas celebration. Families gather today to have dinner, usually late at night, and many people also go to Midnight Mass.

The traditional food is Christmas Eve dinner, along with buñuelos and natilla and sometimes tamales and ajiaco; all typical Colombian Christmas foods. Dinner can be eaten either before or after Midnight Mass, depending on the family.

Presents are traditionally opened at midnight, although some families open presents earlier. Music also usually accompanies the Christmas Eve festivities, usually villancicos – Colombian Christmas carols.

Everyone waits until midnight to wish each other Merry Christmas and to exchange gifts.

Christmas Eve is a little different in Colombia than in other countries; is not the spirit of relaxing but cheering and rejoice. On Christmas Eve family members and neighbors gather to eat and dance.

This night is a party, dancing to many rhythms like salsa, merengue, cumbia, porro, reggae, etc. People are celebrating the birth of Jesus. At midnight, the party is interrupted to open the presents (the gifts that family and friends give each other). After the gifts are shared and opened, the party continues till dawn (if you get there).

Children are sent to their rooms to go to sleep so Baby Jesus can bring then their gifts. El Niño Jesus (Baby Jesus) brings the presents.

Traditional Colombian foods include:

Ajiaco is a stew made primarily of chicken, corn, hot peppers, and potatoes. Ajiaco is a slightly stronger contender for the national dish of Colombia since it’s heavily consumed in more regions of the country, but it still hasn’t been officially selected by the government. Luckily, you don't need government permission to eat this spicy Andean specialty, as it holds a permanent spot in the comfort food pantheon of Colombia. It has a slightly grassy, earthy flavor due to the addition of guascas, an herb common to the area around Bogota.	Lechona is a roast pig stuffed with rice, yellow peas, potatoes, onions, and spices. Served on many a special occasion in the region of Tolima and elsewhere in the country (especially on Colombian Independence Day), lechona is essentially a suckling pig roasted with vegetables and spices, and then carved up with rice. The crispy skin of the pig is highly valued and is served alongside the platter as a tasty accoutrement to a dish that’s pretty much already going whole-hog.	Tamales are a corn masa, meat, and veggies wrapped up snugly in a banana or plantain leaf. We may think of tamales as being a distinctively Central American food, but the truth is that they’re present all over the Latin American world. The Colombian iterations are noticeably larger than their Mexican brethren, as their corn husks have been substituted with plantain leaves. Pour a cup of hot chocolate next to it, and you've got yourself a common Colombian breakfast.
Hojuelas (Fried Puff Squares) are a fried pastry revered by Colombians and other Latin cultures, particularly at Christmas time. These thin and crispy strips of dough are straightforward concoctions of egg, flour, sugar, milk and salt. After a deep frying, they are often drizzled in a simple syrup of butter, brown sugar, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon, then dusted in a fine coating of powdered sugar.	Natilla is the most popular Christmas dish and is eaten along with buñuelos and "manjar blanco", and it resembles a flan or pudding. Some of the ingredients include milk, "panela" (blocks of brown sugar), cinnamon sticks, and flour or cornstarch. Traditionally people like to add grated coconut but it's an optional ingredient. To garnish it, powdered cinammon is spread on top of the finished natilla. Natilla is found all throughout the Christmas season.	Buñuelos are fritters, are made with a small curd white cheese and formed into doughy balls then fried golden brown. It is a traditional Christmas dish, served along with natillas (a custard-like pudding). Colombians love their buñuelos which are served any time of year and any time of day. They even have street stands dedicated to making and selling buñuelos in every city. Yes, Colombians are crazy about these round, fried cheesy, doughy balls.
Pernil Asado (Roasted Pork Leg) is one of the most traditional holiday dishes in Colombia and other Latin American countries. It is pork leg, marinated in a sauce made with beer, onion, garlic, scallions, red bell pepper, achiote, cumin, then slow roasted in the oven for several hours. The leftovers are even better the next day for making sandwiches!	Sabajón is a creamy, rich and delicious drink popular during the Christmas season, but is also enjoyed throughout the year and at other special celebrations around the country. It is the Colombian version of eggnog, spiked with Aguardiente (firewater), a strong alcoholic drink made from anise and sugar cane or rum.	Sancocho is a traditional food in Colombia made with many kinds of meat (most commonly chicken, hen, pork ribs, and fish) with large pieces of plantain, potato, yuca and/or other vegetables such as tomato, scallion, cilantro, and mazorca (corn on the cob). It is also served with a side of sliced avocado and a plate of white rice.

December 25th

Traditionally, "El Niño Jesus", the Christ Child is the one who would bring you the gifts. But recently Santa Claus has been introduced as a gift giver as well. Children get up on Christmas morning and find gifts at the foot of their beds. Christmas trees are in the house but mostly used for decorations.

The 25th is a day of relaxing. Kids open the presents Baby Jesus brought them, and the adults relax from a month of shopping, malls, lots of people and from a big party.

In the afternoons, families might take a trip to the country side to have a picnic and play some games by a lake, river, park, or a field. Picnics in Colombia consist of cooking sancochos, steaks, chicken, potatoes, yuca, ...

December 28th

In order to continue with the festivities, the 28th of December is known by all as the "Day of Innocent" (el Día de los Inocentes) - similar to April Fool's Day. Plenty of jokes are done between friends and relatives. In this day, you can easily win the lottery, you'll be told that your house is on fire, or any other "innocent" trick.

For several years the television newscasts have been showing bloopers they have made throughout the year, and that thanks to editing have never been seen. The written press contributes to this day by publishing a newspaper with plenty of sarcastic news maintaining very good humor. Many of the news appear to be true, and people tend to believe it. Later in the day people know it was a joke when someone tells them "pásela por inocente" (you passed for innocent or naïve).

December 31st

New Year Celebration in Colombia

The celebration of the 31st of December reunites the families with the hope of a New Year full of successes and prosperity. This is a night of partying, a party as big or even bigger that Christmas Eve.

El Muñeco del Año Viejo (Old Year Doll)

Another one of the traditions that continues year after year, is the famous Old Year doll (el Muñeco del Año Viejo). This doll is generally made in the countryside and towns and popular districts. They are made with used clothes, stuffed with rags or sawdust, holding a bottle of aguardiente if he is male or using high heels and lingerie if she is a female. These dolls are seated on the sidewalks or the sides of the road, where they remain until the moment arrives for being burned, at midnight.

Until recently, the night sky of the Colombian cities was covered with thousands of colorful explosions and loud blasts of the fireworks, as if the people are trying to drown their suffering from the year that ends.

Los Agueros (The omens)

One of the traditions that have the most intensity in Colombia. In the matter of omens, there is everything: from looking for the perfect love to offers of prosperity, health, money or trips in the New Year.

The way to put in practice these superstitions is well simple and it only requires of spirit to obtain the ingredients and to apply them in agreement with the “prescription".

This are some of the omens more used by Colombians and who according to those who apply them, are very effective. And it is that on this subject nobody seems to have the last word, neither those that practice all, nor those that do not use any. The certain thing is that they are a very strong tradition in Colombia that conserves a high number of followers.

When it is announced that it is five seconds to midnight, the friends of the omens try to fulfill one hard test of resistance.

• They have to drink a cup of champagne that they hold with the right hand;
• They eat 12 grapes, while they request equal number of wishes;
• They run around the block with a suitcase;
• They wear yellow underwear;
• They kiss a person of the opposite sex;
• They watch the future in an egg;
• They get card readings;
• They read the future in one peeled potato;
• They distribute (wheat) ears and they sing popular sayings.

Culturally the omens are popular beliefs that are repeated generation in generation and that are adapted to the necessities of those who put it in practice in different places and times.

The omens that are known and practiced in Colombia, most of them had their origin in France, where they were imitated by the Spaniards soon to be 'inherited' by the towns conquered by them. Colombian omens for the majority are the best way to wait for the New Year with the family, in the middle of a party and, obviously, standing. And it is that if the New Year comes with you lying down or sleepy, you will have bad luck, bad health and little money. For that reason, the celebration of the New Year is organized with extreme care by all the families, according to their economic possibilities and including at least one of the traditional omens.

January 1st

On th 1st of January people do the popular "stroll of the pot" (paseo de la olla). This is a "pilgrimage" families make to the sea or the river (or the swimming pool) or a prairie or park where they will let their hangover pass. They stay for the whole afternoon near the water or on the grass and next to the heat of a good plate of food and a good amount of refreshments and beers. In addition to eating, they play games such as soccer, and fly kites.

January 6th

Another national holiday, the Epiphany, and represents the day when the wise men reach the Nativity with their giftss. Some people also give gifts on this day but December 25th is still the main holiday nationally and within the Catholic community.

The Epifanía

In many places of the world, but especially in Spain, it is accustomed that the 6th of January, day in which the arrival of the wise men is celebrated, the children receive gifts. This is explained by the legend according to which the wise men, after visiting baby Jesus, started off through the roads distributing the rest of their treasures.

This day the celebration of the Epiphany is celebrated, that means "revelation of Christ to the kings", who brought incense, myrrh and gold, presents that symbolize wisdom, prayer and sacrifice. The praise of the wise men for Jesus, along with the one that the shepherds of Bethlehem did, demonstrates the respect of humanity towards the Son of God, without making a distinction according to race or social class.
 
The catholic celebration includes the blessing of gold, incense, myrrh and salt. The homes also are blessed and incensed.

January 7th

The Christmas season is over. Everything goes back to normal, decorations go down, people go back to work. Schools are still on vacation until early February when they start the new academic year.