This holiday is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday. But this is incorrect. Thank you Jeff–Great article & very useful info. In addition, there are many festivals and carnivals. 25 Dec Sat Christmas Day. I will update the article with this information. In Roman Catholicism, All Saints’ Day is reportedly considered to be a holy day of obligation. This celebration is the 2nd largest Easter Celebration in the world. We saw Koffee el Cafetero in concert. The devotion to the Sacred Heart originally developed in the middle ages out of worship to the wounds that Jesus received during crucifixion. This holiday actually starts on the evening before in Colombia. Places in Colombia. Reportedly only two countries in the world have more public holidays than Colombia – Sri Lanka and India – according to WorldAtlas. Countries that use the Julian Calendar tend to observe New Year’s Day on January 14th. Thanks again Jeff. So, if you plan to go to a movie on a holiday in Colombia buy a ticket early or you will have to stand in a long line. Everywhere in the country, you will be able to see these candles and lanterns. 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. Uncover Colombia Limited. The parades really are a true demonstration of many historical, cultural, and musical, and heritages of Colombia. My Colombian friends seem to tell me for most holidays they don´t have a clue why they are celebrating. Delicious food, religious ceremonies and family games are just some of the historic components of Christmas traditions in Colombia. Cheers. I lived in Colombia and in all that time I found Colombians don’t need a reason to celebrate. I would suggest editing the Columbus one though. The future of Medellin Guru needs the help of readers to remain ad free. But banks and government offices normally only close on the two public holidays during this week on Thursday and Friday. 08092957, Uncover Colombia Ltda. This day commemorates Mary’s death and her assumption into heaven. Each day has a special parade that maintains the same name and emphasis every year, but always offers a new surprise. Ash Wednesday solemnly marks the beginning of the lenten season. Nightly Curfews in Medellín and Antioquia from January 14 to 19, How to Obtain a Colombia Retirement Visa – 2021 Update, Hacienda Napoles: Pablo Escobar’s Former Estate Turned Theme Park, How to Obtain a Colombian Visa – With Up-to-Date 2021 Info, How to Obtain a Colombia Marriage Visa – 2021 Update, September 18 – Saturday: Día de Amor y Amistad (Valentine’s Day of Colombia), November 14 – Sunday: Colombian Women’s Day. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_festivals_in_Colombia Thank you for this information, Jeff. The labor laws in Colombia require that employers provide their employees a day off from work for all official national holidays. We hope you decide to come to one of these great Colombian festivals. Hay Festival in Cartagena . This parade gives silleteros (people who cultivate flowers and create beautiful artwork out of flowers to carry on their backs) a chance to display their amazing work to the public. 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. Now Puerto Rico is in serious trouble. In Colombia, this official public holiday always falls on a Monday, since it’s celebrated 10 weeks and a day after Easter Sunday. The Feria de las Flores (the Flower Festival) is another incredible festival in Colombia that takes place in Medellín, Antioquía. 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. 16 Aug Mon Assumption Day Holiday This festival brings together folklore, cuisine and the ethnic culture of Colombia, Brazil and Peru. Take a second to support Medellin Guru on Patreon! Epiphany is one of the major religious celebrations in Colombia along with Easter and Christmas. First celebrated in 1988, the Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro was originally created to celebrate Bogotá's 450th birthday. 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. Great post, sorry that was years ago I was sailing much of PR. Christmas is more of a month-long celebration in Colombia than just a day. 1 Apr Thu Maundy Thursday This holiday is traditionally celebrated with fireworks displays at midnight in the 31st in the local time zones. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. Fireworks, watching sports and listening to traditional Colombian music are other popular activities. So this list of specific dates goes into my permanent file. If you are planning to visit Colombia you could plan your trip to include one of these festivals in your tour. Día de Amor y Amistad (Valentine’s Day of Colombia) is on September 18 in 2021. 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. In addition, only two months in 2021 – February and September – have no national public Colombia holidays. Twelve of these are religious based celebrations, such as Easter, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Christmas Day. Día de la Raza is more to remember the indigenous community, colonization, and cultural diversity of Latin America. Colombia has more public holidays than in the U.S. or countries in Europe. But Carnival in Barranquilla is cancelled in 2021 due to coronavirus. Many of the dates for holidays in Colombia fluctuate from year to year. Corpus Christi signifies the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Most of the Colombians I know don’t seem to know what the reason is for each Colombian holiday except for the major ones. But can be moved to a Monday. Semana Santa parade in Popayán, photo by National Police of Colombia. We provide a guide to the 18 holidays in Colombia in 2021. Saint Joseph is the patron saint of the Catholic Church, unborn children, fathers, immigrants and workers. 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. Hi there, let us inspire you for your next holidays and get exclusive offers and updates on our latest tours! Copyright © 2020 Medellin Guru - All Rights Reserved. We just updated with information from a reliable source in Colombia. On this date in 1810, Colombian patriots stirred the population of Bogotá into a major uprising in the streets against Spanish rule. Registered in England and Wales No. It was Jesus Christ who ascended into heaven. 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. In addition, there are many observed holidays that aren’t official holidays. The period between Christmas Day and Epiphany is known as the Twelve Days of Christmas. Larger grocery stores tend to be open and many shops in the malls and movie theaters will be open on Colombia holidays. 28 Jan 2021 - 31 Jan 2021. Painting of the Battle of Boyacá by J. W. Cañarete in the National Museum, photo by Peter Angritt. Ascension Day is the celebration of Jesus rising into heaven after he had spent 40 days on earth after the resurrection. COVID-19 Testing in Colombia: Reality About Coronavirus Testing, PCR Test: How to Get a COVID-19 Test in Medellín. Thanks for the helpful article. Updated every day by a dedicated global editorial team, the portal logs 1 million+ unique users monthly. In the evening on December 7, people place paper lanterns and candles are placed on porches, balconies, streets, sidewalks, squares and parks in cities and pueblos throughout Colombia. Colombia's Best Festivals and Carnivals 1. This holiday celebrates Christ’s holiness. Serving lunch & dinner daily. Medellín in particular celebrates Christmas in a big way each year with its world-class Christmas lights. 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. And the most notable is in Cartagena where the most colorful parade takes place, which ends at Plaza Trinidad, the location where Cartagena’s independence was originally declared. The holiday commemorates when Cartagena became the first Colombian city to declare independence from the Spanish. There are multiple sources with conflicting information in English and Spanish. On December 8 it is typical for houses in Colombia to hoist a white flag with the image of the Virgin Mary. Yesterday I heard they lost power again, Part of San Juan and the northern tier of the country. Also, the above photo is courtesy of Vecteezy. | Contact | Editorial Policy | The first Festival of the Flowers took place on May 1, 1957. Colombian Holidays Colombia has an enviable calendar of 18 public holidays per year. Discover the best events in Colombia including Festival Petronio Álvarez, Carnaval de Blancos y Negros, Carnaval de Barranquilla. In 2020, that’s February 26. Most notably, Colombia frequently ranks in the top three in happiness surveys. Colombia is a country with a wealth of festivals, holidays, and celebrations: there are festivals here dedicated to music, religion, food, drink, and some even more strange and bizarre topics! His song El chicle I will forever remember. Semana Santa this year in Colombia is considered to be from Sunday March 25 to Saturday March 31. World Salsa Festival, August, Cali. Find what to do today or anytime in January. 5 Jul Mon Feast of St Peter and St Paul Also, many of the dates for Colombian holidays change each year. So, we plan to update this article each year or post a new article so this website remains up-to-date. According to the New Testament, this took place before the eyes of his disciples. There are festivals to celebrate heritage, there are festivals that celebrate music genres, and even festivals that celebrate flowers. It seems there are holidays every time I need to go to the bank. 3 Jun Thu Corpus Christi Holiday Cartagena is truly one of the most amazing city we have visited. Jeff is the founder and editor-in-chief of Medellin Guru. In Colombia, as with many other religious holidays, Ascension Day is celebrated on the Monday after the actual date. Please try again. Once you have lived in Colombia for a while you get used to there being a lot of holidays each year in Colombia. Jeff is fortunate to have lived over eight years in Medellín. Usually I’m so out of the loop that until the morning of the holiday I haven’t a clue what’s going on. Parties and festivals Colombia enjoys up to 18 long weekends every year, an incredible number of holiday Mondays offering residents and visitors the chance to travel, party and celebrate whatever Saint or historical event the long weekend commemorates. There are certainly lots of celebrations and commemorations to look forward to. 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. And it refers to the components of the Eucharist also known as the Holy Communion, Last Supper or Lord’s Supper. And it’s very typical that you will hear fireworks early into the morning in many neighborhoods. BTW, it’s true that Ash Wednesday falls before Holy (Maundy) Thursday, but not the day before. Furthermore, Colombia holidays are known as festivos. 1 Nov Mon All Saints’ Day Holiday 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. Home Calendar Holidays Colombia. The Assumption of Mary was first celebrated under Pope Sergius I in the 8th century and Pope Leo IV confirmed the feast as official. He has traveled to over 40 countries and hasn’t found a place he prefers living in more than Medellín. 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. Sounds great to me. And several times Colombia has been ranked number one. Ibagué Folk Festival and Bambuco National Folk Festival: These two festivals celebrate the music of Colombia. Colombia is fond of a good festival and there are hundreds of these celebrations held every year, with dancing, floats, […] 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. Cheers!! 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. 8 Dec Wed Immaculate Conception They are just very happy to get another day off. 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. Sound a bit like Puerto Rico. Thanks. Also, two are on a Friday this year. The Sacred Heart holiday commemorate the physical heart of Jesus as a symbol of his divine love for all humanity. Also, some employees will have to work on holidays, as not everything closes. All workers, both in the public and private sectors, have the right to paid for holidays. This law requires that most holidays are moved to the following Monday. 14 Jun Mon Sacred Heart Day The people of this South American country enjoy the national holiday celebrations of Colombia. Festivities on this day include many parades in Colombia. 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. Suite No.1425, Kemp House, 152 - 160 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX. 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. And the banks will be open on non-holiday days during this time. Check our (Covid-19) safety guidelines and updates. Thank you for the information! Today the feast of flowers takes place in early August and lasts ten days and it is the most important social event for the city. Your email address will not be published. You're so close to booking an amazing holiday in Colombia! Most noteworthy, New Year’s Day is reportedly the most widely observed public holiday in the world. 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. Sometimes more is better. I think they celebrate every holiday on the planet. Good to know about all the Colombia holidays with an up to date list for 2018. Maundy Thursday is a religious Holy day that is observed all over the world. FIND GREAT LINKS AND MORE INFORMATION BELOW:Are you interested in a custom or luxury trip to Colombia? We have friends coming that week–I’m concerned this will it affect their visit. It’s inconvenient in a way because I need to change plans but on the other hand things are really tranquil. For example in 2015, WIN/Gallup ranked Colombia the happiest country in the world. And the malls are normally open this week as well as most grocery stores and many restaurants. There is always cool festivals in Colombia. Fireworks in Medellín on July 20, 2010 as part of Colombia Bicentennial Independence Day celebration, photo by Danial Echeverri. Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions. We have reviews of the best places to see in Colombia. And that Mary was void of original sin all of her life. In Colombia, you’ll see fireworks displays in many cities in pueblos. This public holiday commemorates the martyrdom (torture, suffering and death) of two saints, the two apostles, Saint Peter and Saint Paul. 1 May Sat Labour Day For example, Barranquilla normally has two holidays on the Monday and Tuesday of Carnival in Barranquilla. It should be noted that many in Colombia take this entire Semana Santa week off. 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. Required fields are marked *. We have a separate guide to Semana Santa in Colombia on this website. While Mary was assumed or taken into heaven by God. The Barranquilla Carnival through the years has become one of the most important folkloric and cultural festivals in Colombia. This marks the date of the Battle of Boyacá on August 7, 1819, which was a decisive victory in the war for Colombia’s independence from Spain. 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