Bogotá Joins Medellín, Villa de Leyva, Quimbaya, Santa Marta, and Bucaramanga in the Spectacular Celebration of Día de las Velitas Lighting Up Colombia’s Streets with Hope and Tradition

Published on December 8, 2025

If you’re visiting Colombia in December, there’s one experience you absolutely cannot miss: Día de las Velitas (The Day of the Little Candles). Celebrated on December 7th, this event marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Colombia and fills the streets with the warmth of light, joy, and community spirit. It’s a festival like no other, a magical evening where the country is aglow with candles and lanterns, symbolising hope, faith, and the start of the festive season. In this article, we’ll take you on a journey through this enchanting celebration and explore why Día de las Velitas is one of Colombia’s most beautiful and meaningful traditions.

What is Día de las Velitas?

Día de las Velitas is celebrated every year on December 7th in Colombia. The night marks the eve of the Catholic feast day of the Immaculate Conception, a holiday observed worldwide by the Church. The celebration started in 1854 when Pope Pius IX declared the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. In Colombia, people lit candles and lanterns to honour this important religious event, and this tradition quickly grew into a national festival.

While the event has religious roots, it’s also deeply cultural. Over the years, Día de las Velitas has evolved into a celebration that brings families and communities together, regardless of their faith. It’s a night where people of all backgrounds light candles in their homes, streets, and public spaces to mark the start of the Christmas season.

The Tradition of Lighting Candles

The most striking feature of Día de las Velitas is the lighting of candles and lanterns. As night falls, the streets of Colombia fill with the soft glow of thousands of candles placed on windowsills, doorways, and sidewalks. People also create colourful paper lanterns, which are often hung on balconies or placed along streets. The result is a breathtaking sight as cities, towns, and villages light up, creating a festive atmosphere that feels almost magical.

The candles are not just decorations; they carry deep symbolism. The light represents faith, hope, and purity. In religious terms, the candles are meant to honour the Virgin Mary, but for many Colombians, they also represent unity and togetherness. Lighting candles is a way for families and communities to come together, reflect on the year past, and welcome the new year with joy and optimism.

How Colombia Celebrates Día de las Velitas

Día de las Velitas is a truly nationwide celebration, with cities and towns across Colombia taking part in the event. From small villages to large metropolitan areas, the festival is a time for family, community, and celebration. While the traditions remain similar, different regions of Colombia put their own spin on the celebration, adding local customs, music, and festivities to make it uniquely their own.

Bogotá: The Capital City’s Stunning Light Displays

As Colombia’s capital, Bogotá offers one of the most magnificent celebrations of Día de las Velitas. The city is transformed into a glowing wonderland, with public lighting displays in plazas, parks, and major avenues. The festive atmosphere extends beyond just candles; the city’s Christmas lights and decorations add to the charm, making it a must-visit destination for anyone in Colombia during December. People gather in the city’s iconic plazas to celebrate, light candles, and enjoy the vibrant ambience. Whether in the city’s historical district or its more modern commercial areas, Bogotá is alive with energy and light, making it the perfect place to experience the holiday spirit.

Medellín: The City of Eternal Spring Shines Bright

In Medellín, Día de las Velitas is one of the city’s biggest and most anticipated events of the year. Known as the “City of Eternal Spring” due to its year-round pleasant weather, Medellín turns into a colourful light show during this festival. Streets and neighbourhoods are filled with glowing candles, lanterns, and the city’s own Christmas light decorations. People gather in the streets to light candles and lanterns at their homes, creating a community spirit that is both festive and intimate. Medellín is famous for its grand alumbrados (Christmas light displays), which make the festival even more special. During Día de las Velitas, Medellín’s parks, commercial centres, and public spaces are filled with light, offering visitors an unforgettable experience.

Villa de Leyva: A Colonial Town Transformed by Light

Villa de Leyva, located in the Boyacá region, is a small colonial town known for its charming cobblestone streets and whitewashed houses. During Día de las Velitas, Villa de Leyva is transformed into a stunning festival of lights. The town’s historic streets and squares are decorated with candles and lanterns, creating a magical atmosphere that draws visitors from all over Colombia and beyond. The celebration is particularly beautiful in Villa de Leyva due to its colonial architecture, which provides the perfect backdrop for the lights. If you want to experience a more intimate and picturesque version of Día de las Velitas, Villa de Leyva is the place to be.

Quimbaya: The Coffee Region’s Artisanal Touch

In the heart of Colombia’s Coffee Region, Quimbaya and nearby towns celebrate Día de las Velitas in a way that combines artistry and tradition. Known for its handmade lanterns (known as faroles), Quimbaya’s celebration is a blend of craftsmanship and cultural heritage. People create beautiful paper lanterns and candles, often with intricate designs, which are displayed along streets, balconies, and parks. The tradition of artisan lantern-making adds a unique touch to the celebration, making it an exceptional experience for visitors who want to witness something truly special.

Santa Marta: Coastal Celebration with a Warm Twist

Santa Marta, located on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, offers a unique regional twist on Día de las Velitas. The warm coastal air and the sound of the sea provide a relaxing backdrop as people in this tropical city gather to light their candles and lanterns. The vibrant glow of candles and lanterns combined with the sea breeze creates a peaceful and enchanting atmosphere that sets it apart from the celebrations in the mountain towns. Santa Marta’s celebration is often more relaxed, with families and friends gathering at the beach or in local parks to enjoy the festivities.

Bucaramanga: A Community Celebration

In Bucaramanga, the celebration is all about community. Public spaces, parks, and avenues are lit up with candles and lanterns, and locals gather in these areas to enjoy the festive atmosphere. While Bucaramanga may not be as widely known for its large public light displays as cities like Medellín or Bogotá, it offers a warm and welcoming version of the celebration that is deeply rooted in the local community. Visitors to Bucaramanga during Día de las Velitas will find themselves immersed in a close-knit, family-oriented atmosphere, where the focus is on togetherness and sharing the joy of the season.

Why Día de las Velitas is So Special

What makes Día de las Velitas so unique is how it brings people together, both in a religious and cultural sense. It’s a celebration that unites Colombians from all walks of life, no matter where they are in the country. The simple act of lighting a candle becomes a powerful symbol of hope, faith, and community. It marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Colombia and sets the tone for all the festivities that follow.

Beyond the lights and the candles, Día de las Velitas is about more than just public displays. It’s a time for family and community. Families come together to light their candles, share meals, and reflect on the year. Communities gather in parks and plazas to share in the celebration, and public spaces become places of warmth and connection. The sense of unity felt on this night is something truly special, and it’s what makes Día de las Velitas such a powerful and emotional experience.

A Night to Remember

If you’re visiting Colombia in December, Día de las Velitas is a must-see event. From the city lights of Bogotá to the historic charm of Villa de Leyva, the country’s celebration of light and unity offers a truly unforgettable experience. The festival is not just a celebration of the start of Christmas; it’s a celebration of Colombian culture, community spirit, and the power of light to bring people together.

Whether you’re walking through the glowing streets of Medellín, enjoying the artisan lanterns of Quimbaya, or soaking in the festive atmosphere in Santa Marta, you’ll find that Día de las Velitas is a celebration that leaves a lasting impression. It’s a night where light and tradition merge to create a beautiful and emotional experience that captures the heart of Colombia.

Día de las Velitas is not just a night of candles; it’s a night of light, hope, faith, and community. From Bogotá’s grand light displays to Villa de Leyva’s quaint charm, from the artisan lanterns of Quimbaya to the coastal warmth of Santa Marta, this is a celebration that unites the entire country. It’s a celebration of family, tradition, and togetherness. If you ever have the chance to witness Día de las Velitas in Colombia, you’ll experience the beauty and warmth of a country that knows how to celebrate the things that matter most: light, love, and community.