Thank you Jeff–Great article & very useful info. Festivities on this day include many parades in Colombia. Like the Carnaval celebration in Rio de Janeiro and Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the Carnaval celebration in Barranquilla occurs in the days leading up to Lent. While Mary was assumed or taken into heaven by God. There are festivals to celebrate heritage, there are festivals that celebrate music genres, and even festivals that celebrate flowers. Thanks Jeff read earlier, then got busy. On this date in 1810, Colombian patriots stirred the population of Bogotá into a major uprising in the streets against Spanish rule. Copyright © 2020 Medellin Guru - All Rights Reserved. Twelve of these are religious based celebrations, such as Easter, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Christmas Day. Almost done! FIND GREAT LINKS AND MORE INFORMATION BELOW:Are you interested in a custom or luxury trip to Colombia? Calle 59 # 56 - 63 Int 3 Of. 17 May Mon Ascension Day Holiday 25 Oct 2020 ‘Not even the pandemic’ will stop Colombia protests, leaders say. Carnival of Barranquilla (Carnaval de Barranquilla) Today we'd like to tell you about three of the most popular and well-known Colombian festivals. Focusing on performing arts presentations, concerts, plays, conferences, street performances, and even interpretative dances are part of this magical festival that converts Bogotá into a theatrical wonderland. https://www.uncovercolombia.com/blog/famous-festivals-in-colombia Please try again with new dates. And this uprising is celebrated by the Colombia Independence Day holiday. 7 Aug Sat Battle of Boyacá Day This carnival is one of the most important in southwest Colombia and is celebrated between 2-7th January, in the city of Pasto, (capital of the Nariño department), and in neighbouring municipalities. Editors note: updated on March 29, 2020 with information that Semana Santa in 2020 will have no Semana Santa processions and no Masses in churches and parishioners have been told to stay at home during Semana Santa due to the national quarantine in Colombia. Independence Day in Colombia is typically celebrated with parades and marches throughout the country. In some countries, during holidays everything seems to be closed. Also, in Cartagena on this date is the ‘Battle of Flowers’, which is the beauty contest to pick Miss Colombia who will go on to represent Colombia in the Miss Universe contest. Sometimes more is better. Also, as in most festivals in Colombia, there has to be a beauty queen, so the corresponding beauty pageant happens under the name of Joropo International Beauty Pageant. Check our (Covid-19) safety guidelines and updates. In addition, there are many festivals and carnivals. 7. Christmas Day celebrates the nativity of Jesus, which according to tradition took place on December 25, 1 BC. Please check with event organizers for details. Things to Do in Colombia, South America: See Tripadvisor's 1,679,937 traveler reviews and photos of Colombia tourist attractions. One does not match your list – Corpus Cristi is on June 7 not June 3, as it was moved to a Monday. We provide a guide to the 18 holidays in Colombia in 2021. Sign up for the Free Medellin Guru Newsletter – You can see all of the previous Medellin Guru weekly email newsletters and sign up here. My Colombian friends also never seem to know what is the reason for many of the holidays. All Saint’s Day, also known at All Hallow’s Day, Hallowmas, the Feast of All Saints or Solemnity of All Saints is a holiday that is a commemoration day for all Christian saints, known and unknown. Hi there, let us inspire you for your next holidays and get exclusive offers and updates on our latest tours! Many Colombianos and for that matter people of Latin America, see this date as important to recognize and honor our indigenous community and the diversity of our countries. This celebration is the 2nd largest Easter Celebration in the world. Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions. Perhaps the most famous part of this festival is a parade called "El Defile de los Silleteros." Thanks again Jeff. Now Puerto Rico is in serious trouble. 04 June 2014 Andrea Pradilla - Director Focal Point Colombia GRI is officially launching its seventh Focal Point this month, with events in Bogotá and Medellín. Editors note: completely updated on December 25, 2019 with the dates for the Colombia holidays in 2020. COVID-19 Testing in Colombia: Reality About Coronavirus Testing, PCR Test: How to Get a COVID-19 Test in Medellín. The Barranquilla Carnival through the years has become one of the most important folkloric and cultural festivals in Colombia. And the banks will be open on non-holiday days during this time. The streets are lit with parties, the boat parties are something you wouldn’t want to miss and the Independence Day parade with people wearing the most colorful costumes is a treat to a tourist’s eye. My Colombian friends seem to tell me for most holidays they don´t have a clue why they are celebrating. The Assumption of Mary was first celebrated under Pope Sergius I in the 8th century and Pope Leo IV confirmed the feast as official. Colombia Coronavirus Death Rate: What are the Chances of Dying? I will update the article with this information. Places in Colombia. And it refers to the components of the Eucharist also known as the Holy Communion, Last Supper or Lord’s Supper. And that Mary was void of original sin all of her life. BTW, it’s true that Ash Wednesday falls before Holy (Maundy) Thursday, but not the day before. This is scheduled on March 25, the first Monday after the 19th. In addition, having many Colombian holidays is probably one of the reasons why Colombia tends to rank highly in global happiness surveys over the past few years. The Assumption of Mary is holiday that is celebrated in August every year. The devotion to the Sacred Heart originally developed in the middle ages out of worship to the wounds that Jesus received during crucifixion. Semana Santa this year in Colombia is considered to be from Sunday March 25 to Saturday March 31. This holiday commemorates the presentation of the infant Jesus to the three wise men. Article is updated. Famous for its colonial architecture, Popay á n is also known as the religious capital of Colombia and is home to more churches per capita than any other settlement in the country. Medellín in particular celebrates Christmas in a big way each year with its world-class Christmas lights. For example in 2015, WIN/Gallup ranked Colombia the happiest country in the world. Liked it? This holiday is always celebrated on July 20 in Colombia. The parades really are a true demonstration of many historical, cultural, and musical, and heritages of Colombia. Independence of Cartagena in 2021 is celebrated on Monday, November 15. Ash Wednesday solemnly marks the beginning of the lenten season. There were several festivities. Jeff is fortunate to have lived over eight years in Medellín. Here is a list of all 18 of the official national public Colombia holidays and the dates in 2021 for these holidays. But can be moved to a Monday. 1 Apr Thu Maundy Thursday Admittedly, the … The following are public holidays in Colombia : Año Nuevo / ( New Year's Day) (January 1) Día de los Reyes Magos / ( Epiphany) (January 6 [1]) Monday of Carnival (48 days before Easter Sunday or 2 days before Ash Wednesday. Just keep reading, you will find all the information you need to enjoy this holiday. In addition, only two months in 2021 – February and September – have no national public Colombia holidays. They are placed to honor Virgin Mary and the Immaculate Conception. 8 Dec Wed Immaculate Conception The future of Medellin Guru needs the help of readers to remain ad free. In 1264 Pope Urban IV declared Corpus Christi as a holiday. Yesterday I heard they lost power again, Part of San Juan and the northern tier of the country. 15 Nov Mon Independence of Cartagena Holiday Even though fighting continued for a few more years, the victory at Boyacá is seen as the definitive battle in Colombia’s war for independence. It was established to commemorate the foot washing (Maundy) and the last supper of Jesus Christ with his Apostles. August is a great time to visit Colombia’s capital. The Brotherhood Festival (Festival de la Confraternidad) is held in July in Leticia. Colombia is home to some of the best festivals in the world, from huge carnivals and religious celebrations to smaller, more off-the-beaten-track events celebrating foods and musical genres. Delicious food, religious ceremonies and family games are just some of the historic components of Christmas traditions in Colombia. The people of this South American country enjoy the national holiday celebrations of Colombia. We are sorry but we cannot complete booking due to availability change. Thank you for the information! In 2020, that’s February 26. 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. It should be noted that many in Colombia take this entire Semana Santa week off. With so many Colombia holidays each year, it turns out that many Colombians on some of these holidays don’t even know what is being celebrated in my experience. This is known as Emiliani’s Law in Colombia, which was enacted on December 6, 1983 as Law 51. 11 Jan Mon Epiphany Holiday Love this article. So, we plan to update this article each year or post a new article so this website remains up-to-date. Also, two are on a Friday this year. For many Colombia holidays, if they fall on a weekend or in the middle of the week, the holiday date is moved to the following Monday. Now Reopen Sunday - Thursday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday - Saturday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. . In Colombia, some keep their Christmas trees up until this date to celebrate. Thanks. On July 20, 1810, an uprising in Bogota is seen as the start for independence in Colombia. It was Jesus Christ who ascended into heaven. This festival brings together folklore, cuisine and the ethnic culture of Colombia, Brazil and Peru. This holiday is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday. Suite No.1425, Kemp House, 152 - 160 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX. Events and Festivals in Cartagena Cartagena celebrates the whole of November with some bizarre feastings. We were so lucky we visited Cartagena during there independence celebration in November. This day commemorates Mary’s death and her assumption into heaven. There is always cool festivals in Colombia. Semana Santa parade in Popayán, photo by National Police of Colombia. Holidays and Observances in Colombia in 2020. We have a separate guide to Semana Santa in Colombia on this website. The Sacred Heart holiday commemorate the physical heart of Jesus as a symbol of his divine love for all humanity. In Colombia, you’ll see fireworks displays in many cities in pueblos. New Year celebrations are calmer than in Europe and North America and Colombians spend the evening with their families A few days later, Colombia celebrates Innocent Saints Day, the local equivalent of April Fool’s Day, on which it is traditional to play light hearted pranks. | Contact | Editorial Policy | Every article about celebrations in Colombia. 2 Apr Fri Good Friday The Immaculate Conception is one of the most important Marian feasts of the Roman Catholic Church. We are sorry but we are facing our payment gateway error. One of the biggest performing festivals in the world, the Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro is a unique Colombian festival that occurs every two years in Bogotá. I think they celebrate every holiday on the planet. Fireworks, watching sports and listening to traditional Colombian music are other popular activities. So this list of specific dates goes into my permanent file. Labor Day originated in the United States where it falls on the first Monday in September. The rest are civic holidays, like Independence Day (July 20), … Colombia's Best Festivals and Carnivals 1. We saw Koffee el Cafetero in concert. All countries except for Israel that use the Gregorian calendar celebrate New Year’s Day on January 1st. 20 Jul Tue Independence Day World Salsa Festival, August, Cali. The first Festival of the Flowers took place on May 1, 1957. Since that first celebration, it has grown to be one of the biggest and most popular festivals celebrated in Bogotá with both Colombians and foreigners arriving to both participate in and watch the varied performances of the festival. Colombia has more public holidays than in the U.S. or countries in Europe. They are just very happy to get another day off. Thank you for this information, Jeff. In Roman Catholicism, All Saints’ Day is reportedly considered to be a holy day of obligation. Colombia currently has 18 public holidays and 12 of these are Catholic holidays. Los Llanos area has a variety of festivals, such as: The Corrido Llanero Festival held in Puerto Carreño in February, the Llanera's Song Festival held in Villavicencio in March, the Joropo International Contest held in Villavicencio in June, the World Cole Encounter, held in Villavicencio in October and the Cimarron de Oro Festival held in December. Also, I previously included Colombia having more holidays than the U.S. as one of 27 Reasons I Chose to Live in Medellín. This holiday is normally celebrated on January 6. Colombia strongly reflects its history as a colony of Spain.It is often referred to as the most Roman Catholic of the South American countries, and most of its people are proud of the relative purity of their Spanish language.Its population is heavily mestizo (of mixed European and Indian descent) with substantial minorities of European and African ancestry. Everywhere in the country, you will be able to see these candles and lanterns. But as soon as I step out on to the street it hits me; everything is waay too quiet considering it’s not even Sunday morning. 1 Nov Mon All Saints’ Day Holiday In addition, there are many observed holidays that aren’t official holidays. In addition, this holiday occurs the day before Good Friday. Some cities in Colombia have additional public holidays. This holiday in Colombia is celebrated every year on August 7. Top Colombia Blogs: A Guide to the Top Colombia Blogs by Expats. Also, many of the dates for Colombian holidays change each year. Saint Joseph’s Day is a holiday that celebrates the Virgin Mary’s husband and the adoptive legal father of Jesus Christ. New Year’s Day is January 1st, the first day of the year. So, nine of the 18 holidays in Colombia in 2021 are on a Monday. And the malls are normally open this week as well as most grocery stores and many restaurants. This holiday combined with Good Friday on April 10 are part of the holy week or Semana Santa in Colombia, which commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus as told by the New Testament. All workers, both in the public and private sectors, have the right to paid for holidays. This is a day that is celebrated in many parts of Latin America and the Caribbean. Any time of the year is a good time to visit the Amazon Region, but if you want to see a traditional festival and learn more about their traditions and culture, there are certain times to visit. 3 Jun Thu Corpus Christi Holiday It covers all aspects, from cities to airports, cruise ports to ski and beach resorts, attractions to events, and it also includes weekly travel news, features and quizzes. Once you have lived in Colombia for a while you get used to there being a lot of holidays each year in Colombia. Black and White Carnival, Pasto. There are certainly lots of celebrations and commemorations to look forward to. Good to know about all the Colombia holidays with an up to date list for 2018. Furthermore, Colombia holidays are known as festivos. Countries that use the Julian Calendar tend to observe New Year’s Day on January 14th. We have reviews of the best places to see in Colombia. Hay Festival in Cartagena . Colombia is the 8th country to top a million infections, after US, India, Brazil, Russia, Argentina, Spain and France. Epiphany is one of the major religious celebrations in Colombia along with Easter and Christmas. Please try again. You will now be directed to PayPal to complete the secure booking process. Thanks for catching that. And several times Colombia has been ranked number one. Discover the best events in Colombia including Festival Petronio Álvarez, Carnaval de Blancos y Negros, Carnaval de Barranquilla. Suggested countries: United States ... Events and observations associated with the holidays we list may be canceled or otherwise affected due to measures taken to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Cheers!! Colombia Holidays: A Guide to the Many Festivos in Colombia Please try again soon. Your email address will not be published. We are talking about a Catholic country so the main celebrations are held around Easter and Christmas time. This holiday actually starts on the evening before in Colombia. Hi David, thanks. So, we are providing this up-to-date guide to all the public Colombia holidays. Painting of the Battle of Boyacá by J. W. Cañarete in the National Museum, photo by Peter Angritt. Some people mistakenly believe Mary ascended into heaven. At the end of March with Maundy & Good Friday–you mentioned many businesses close for a week–does this mean 3/29–4/4? In the Roman Catholic tradition, this day is typically treated as a fast day – a day in which one only has one full meal and abstains from the consumption of meat. It seems there are holidays every time I need to go to the bank. Take a second to support Medellin Guru on Patreon! You're so close to booking an amazing holiday in Colombia! While there was “discovery” the reality is more grim. He has traveled to over 40 countries and hasn’t found a place he prefers living in more than Medellín. After enjoying the festival, be sure to take one of our many tours in Colombia so you can continue to learn about Colombian culture and history. The Llanera Song Festival is a memorable experience for anyone that witnesses this huge celebration to the regional cultural heritage. In addition, many readers of the Medellin Guru website have asked for details about the Colombia holidays. Cheers. Ascension Day is the celebration of Jesus rising into heaven after he had spent 40 days on earth after the resurrection. Colombia stands out as one of the countries that have a lot of national public holidays, summing up to around twenty days every single year. 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