Pre-Christmas time in Colombia

Living already almost four months here in Colombia showed me that many things here work a bit different. Already in the beginning of November it became clear to me that also the time before Christmas is lived in a different way than we do it in Germany. Of course I am currently really missing winter and Christmas markets and honestly I am a bit jealous that there is snow in Germany now. Anyways there is a lot in Colombia that is also amazing about the time just before Christmas:
 

- Christmas decoration wherever you look – private houses, companies and especially malls put a lot of effort to be decorated before the 1^st December. When speaking of Christmas lights it is impossible to not talk about the famous mountain Monserrate which lies on 3200m (Bogotá itself is on a hight of 2600m). During pre-Christmas time Monserrate is the tourist attraction even for locals as the city puts a lot of love into decorating every corner of the view spot that lets you see most of Bogotá. I say most of Bogotá, as Bogotá has a size that’s unimaginable. So for everyone who wanted to visit Colombia and Bogotá in December go and wait the 3hours to drive to the top in “Teleferico” (Cable car you might know from your last winter vacation) or “Funicular” (a train that goes up the hill – actually just a bigger version of the one in my hometown called “Turmbergbahn”). Here I let some pictures speak for itself. 

Canelazo - typical Colombian drink for cold Bogotá nights

Just a few (1000) people waiting to go up the hill

 

 

L O V E

Bogotá by night <3

Can you see how she's tanned and I am not :D

Santuario de Monserrate

Deep inside I am an angel

- As Colombia is a very catholic country, the pre-Christmas time is a very important one including very nice mangers to be found in every single church and other places like two in my university (the one in the congregation where we go is huge with streets of Jerusalem to be discovered) and traditionally the Advent wreath with one candle every Advent Sunday will be blessed by the father. 

- 8 ^th December: might seem like any other date in December to you, but here in Colombia it’s an official holiday. The night of the 7^th everybody celebrates “el día de los velitas” the day of the little candles. This is a holiday on the eve of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. Colombia around the world is the only country that holds up this tradition of lighting candles in name of the Holy Mary. With each candle people make a prayer for e.g. their family or to say thank you for the things they have received in life or wishes for the future. Next to candles they will also light fireworks, "Chispitas Mariposas"(sparklers or Wunderkerzen how we call it in German). It is a very calm and nice family night with actually all the neighborhood

 

 

Candles in all forms and decorations - loved this recycled one

 

- Las Novenas: nine days before Christmas eve (24^th  December) every night the family gets together and prays and sings for baby Jesus to arrive. Every day another person of the bible is addressed, so different days there is one special prayer for Maria, Joseph etc. It’s a really cute Christmas tradition that’s quite a bonding experience. 

- Christmas: Chirstmas is actually also celebrated on the 24^th at night similar to how we do it in Germany. Here there is, of course, also a mess we celebrated in a park near by as the church itself cannot handle if all the people come to the mass at the same time. After church everyone went home, us including my dear friend Laufey from Iceland who traveled almost all of South America and who finalizes her trip here in Colombia. Our Christmas food was Tamal – a very tipical food in general in Colombia. That is a corn mass including some veggies, chickpeas and a piece of chicken all evolved in banana leaves – super recommendable if you’re here once. And well with a full stomach, loud music and already tired feet from dancing at 12 everybody gets up, holds a glass of wine and counts down from 10 to 0, because 12 o’clock baby Jesus arrives and finally the presents can be shared. All in all it was really nice to share such a special holiday with my second family here in Colombia and with one of the most important people in my life. 

Anyhow have I been with my family in my thoughts and I cannot wait to share it at home next year, with Christmas markets, my loved ones, cold weather (yes Bogotá isn’t super warm but like 0-5 degrees I would actually appreciate, thanks to heatings in Germany haha) 

Muchos Besos,

Leonie