Strange Colombian Christmas Traditions

vanwely says on Dec 8, 2005, 10:18:

Fireworks
My wife says that they shoot off fireworks on Christmas in Colombia as well as new year. Is that true?

Colombia - Tierra Querida

Colombia - Tierra Querida

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Paisitaenusa says on Dec 8, 2005, 12:32:

yes it is true and the sad thing is that fireworks are as controlled as they are here, they are sold everywhere and even kids are able to buy them.


www.chatdecolombianos.com/html/index.php

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ColombiaBoard says on Dec 8, 2005, 12:40:

Three different things You´re confusing three different things, one is tradition and the other two are carnivals.
The candles are lit on dec. 8th, it´s the official start of christmas, so they lit candles and also the christmas lights everywhere.
The devils chasing people and the angels... that´s the Riosucio Devil Festival which takes place only every 5 years.
The people throwing starch at each other and made up in black and white, that´s the Blancos & Negros festival in Pasto, it takes place each year in january, and by the way, none of the festivals take place in Boyaca.

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Lowell says on Dec 8, 2005, 13:28:

Christmas in Colombia - not strange - lots of fun I now live in Colombia. In our town Dec 7 + 8 are celibrated for the Virgin Mary. Last night and tonight people make/buy candle lit beautiful lanterns amd other x-mas decorations for the street. Last night at least 2 side streets in my area were closed, so the whole street (and I mean the WHOLE street)can be filled with these decorations. One street even had small blue over the street. The whole thing is accented by tons of fireworks. Also, people really take pride in the decorating of their palces with lights of all types. Totally beautiful and a new experience for me. I never saw anything like this in tyhe States or Panama.

New years eve afternoon can be a bad place to be on the street if you don't want to get pelted with eggs and ashes, water, overripe tomatoes.... its called "desfile de munecos". They also make life sized dummies that arer loaded with fireworks and later burned after the "desfile". During the desfile (many times with a police escort) drive around in trucks, moto's... throwing stuff at each other along with parading their munecos. It's a hell of an afternoon. I lived through 2 so far.

Another common thing to do (at least in my barrio) is to buy a live pig. They deliver the pig to your door, most of the neighborhood gathers, then my someone kills it there on the street by sticking a shaft into the pigs heart. Then they torch the skin of the pig to rid it of the hair. It's gutted and cleaned. Just about every part of the pig is eaten.

People who don't drink all year long will drink on New years Eve and New Years Day. Usually, Agua Diente, Rum, Brandy or Whiskey. When you visit you will be expected to partake in what they are drinking.

All the holidays are very well celibrated here. I think its a welcome releive of the crapy struggling lives that most people have to live.

This Sunday is my wife's sons First Communion. Its another very big celibration. We've bought small presents for all the guest kids, have a Pinata and special food for the adults. We've rented a special suit for her son, bought a new outfit for the wife and I'll be buying a new shirt for myself.

LWA

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

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Lucia Rojas says on Dec 8, 2005, 19:25:

playing aguinaldos is fun. Dar y no recibir, Al si y al no, tres pies, pajita en boca... You can bet little presents and you can make the game last for days.

Salir a ver los alumbrados.
running around the block with your suitcase and all the other agüeros...
Burning the Año Viejo and making the Año Viejo
Lighting loads of candles La noche de las velitas
Praying the Novena and making every Novena end with a party.. "Beningnisimo dios de infinita caridad..."
Cooking with the family and having the kitchen always full of people...
Culebras de Polvora de mil y dos mil tacos

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