Thank you for this information, Jeff. Usually I’m so out of the loop that until the morning of the holiday I haven’t a clue what’s going on. It falls on Sunday and not a public holiday. *Please Just Don't Put Stuff About Christmas Ty* This is one list I came across which one other list concurs with…, 1 Jan Fri New Year’s Day Celebrate Christmas like Colombians do with these tips! This holiday is normally celebrated on January 6. 15 Nov Mon Independence of Cartagena Holiday Families and friends gather to “canelazo”, (a spiced cinnamon rum drink) and feast on Christmas delicacies such as buñuelos, natilla, and tamales. La Novena de Aguinaldos. 22 Mar Mon St Joseph’s Day Traditional Colombian Festivals. Great post, sorry that was years ago I was sailing much of PR. Independence of Cartagena in 2021 is celebrated on Monday, November 15. In addition, many readers of the Medellin Guru website have asked for details about the Colombia holidays. The Colombian carnival has incorporated elements from European culture as well as traditions that belonged to the African and Amerindian cultures of Colombia. Felize Navidad is important Día de las Velitas, photo by Melissa Álvarez. They celebrate all national and traditional events very warmly. All over Colombia, cities, towns, family and people normally celebrate and recognize Holy Week in a variety of different ways and levels of intensity. There are competitions for the best light displays and many towns hold concerts and fireworks shows. The following are public holidays in Colombia: Año Nuevo / (New Year's Day) (January 1) … The devotion to the Sacred Heart originally developed in the middle ages out of worship to the wounds that Jesus received during crucifixion. Also, this is a popular day for attending mass in the beautiful churches in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley. No article on Colombian traditions would be complete without an overview of Colombia's famous carnivals. For example, Día de Amor y Amistad (Valentine’s Day of Colombia) falls on September 18 in 2021. Little Candles Day (Spanish: Día de las velitas) is a widely observed traditional holiday in Colombia. Thank you Jeff–Great article & very useful info. Saint Joseph is the patron saint of the Catholic Church, unborn children, fathers, immigrants and workers. It’s a hearty addition to any meal and served sweet or savory. The common characteristics of the festivals are the nomination of a beauty Queen and the setting up of public dance floor. However, Samana Santa in 2021 may be different than past years with no Semana Santa processions and without Masses in churches due to the coronavirus pandemic  Parishioners in 2020 were asked to stay home during this week in Colombia due to the quarantine. Colombia Visa Processing Times, Medellín Metro Guide: Updated Guide with New 2021 Fares, Hacienda Napoles: Pablo Escobar’s Former Estate Turned Theme Park, COVID-19 Testing in Colombia: Reality About Coronavirus Testing, How to Obtain a Colombian Visa – With Up-to-Date 2021 Info. Colombia has an enviable calendar of 18 public holidays per year. Good to know about all the Colombia holidays with an up to date list for 2018. Sounds great to me. So, Catholics are supposed to go to mass on the date unless there is a good reason not to attend, such as illness. Ascension Day is the 40th day of Easter. While only two of these days are considered national public holidays and two days are on the weekend, it has become traditional for many smaller businesses in Colombia to close for this entire week. Colombia currently has 18 public holidays and 12 of these are Catholic holidays. 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