What is the Day of the Little Candles in Colombia?

What's the history on Little Candles Day?

Candlemas Day has a religious origin dating back to 1854. And the Catholic Church’s belief in the Virgin Mary's proclamation of her Immaculate Conception.

This day commemorates the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel that Mary was chosen. Before Jesus's Birth, she was chosen as his mother, whom she conceived by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit.

This dogma was established by Pope Pius IX in the bull Ineffabilis Deus and established that Mary was the only person who was born free from the least vestige of original sin. This was by the Merits of Jesus Christ, who came to us through a most pure act and free from all sin by being born of a totally pure woman.

History tells that during the vigil of that proclamation, Catholics from around the world demonstrated their faith and their support for the dogma. They paid homage to the Virgin by lighting candles and torches that illuminated the night before and the early morning of the 8th of December of that year.

The tradition has remained in Colombia over the years and is still alive today. Throughout the country the streets and town squares of villages and cities are decorated with paper lanterns. Celebrating Candlemas Day with the family is a long-established tradition among Colombians who take the opportunity to get together as the following day is a public holiday.

The religious significance of Candlemas Day's links it to the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah. This commemorates the purification of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucids. It's said that a candelabrum was lit at the purification ceremony and remained unquenched for eight days.

In modern-day Colombia, many out of the Paisa region, in the north-west of the country, are descendants of Jews who celebrated Hanukkah. Over time, the celebrations have taken on elements of ancient Jewish and Catholic traditions.

When is Little Candles Day celebrated?

Being a tradition closely linked to the festivity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, some people are still in doubt. The answer is easy, Little Candles Day is celebrated on the 7th night of December.

The following day, the 8th of December, celebrations continue with the Immaculate Conception Day, widely commemorated by Catholics all over the world.

In other words, Colombians celebrate the vigil of the dogma on Candlemas Day and the proclamation on the following day. Both days celebrate the Immaculate Conception, a pre-Christmas date that initiates December's festivities.

Gareth Harper / Unsplash - Photography

What's celebrated on Candlemas Day?

Although this date began as part of the Catholic faith, over the years it's become a cultural and social event, as well as a religious one. It's a moment of fraternity and spirituality that marks the beginning of one of the most important months of the year for the faithful.

Celebrating Little Candles Day extends the religious significance and also becomes a time to be grateful for being together and reunited as a family for another year. In some households, candles are also lit in honour and remembrance of deceased family members.

Devotion to the Virgin Mary runs deep among Catholics, who pay tribute by thanking her for the year-round protection given to them and asking for her blessings for the year to come.

What's the meaning behind Candlemas Day?

As indicated, this evening symbolises a before and an after, a grateful farewell to the year that's ending and hope of blessings for the one that is about to begin.

It's a night to share with loved ones and to reflect and ask for the protection of the Virgin Mary illuminating our path.

In its most playful aspect, is the beginning of the happiness and joy of the Holiday season. The Christmas celebrations begin and what better way than with songs for Candlemas Day, featuring titles such as "Las Cuatro Fiestas", "El Emperadorcito" or "La Piragua".

Food is part of the festivities and family gatherings, and typical dishes such as sweet dumplings or custard are not to be missed.

Candlemas Day brings together religion and the traditions of Colombian folklore with the joy of Christmas gatherings.

How's Candlemas Day celebrated in Colombia?

Lanterns for Candlemas Day are lit all over Colombia, although traditions and celebrations vary from place to place. Some towns, such as Medellín or Quimbaya, have become real tourist destinations and are filled with visitors. They take advantage of the school holidays during this time of the year, ready to enjoy the tradition and all the activities for the Day's celebration that inaugurate festivities in anticipation of the Christmas holidays.

This is how this day is celebrated in some of the main localities of the country.

• In Colombia's capital city, Bogotá, houses’ balconies and porches display their candles and paper lanterns, and the streets, squares and parks, already richly decorated with Christmas motifs, offer evening activities for the whole family. This includes carol singing, living nativity scenes, fireworks and light shows. Shops and shopping centres contribute to the city's merriment by staying open late.

• In Medellín and other municipalities of the Antioquia department, the Myths and Legends Parades, are held. Parades take to the streets recreating characters from Colombian folklore such as La Llorona, El Mohán and el Cura sin cabeza.

• In Armenia, the capital of the Quindío department, the illuminated streets are decorated with figures alluding to the December festivities and parades and fireworks displays are held.

• The Candles and Lanterns Festival in the Quimbaya municipality involves competing neighbourhoods for the most splendid lighting. Here, the custom of lighting up the festive night is linked to another well-known tradition: the Christmas Panther. The native Quimbaya people used fire to keep the pumas away. Harmonising Catholic beliefs with the ancestral symbology of the area panthers are used alongside the lighting of candles and paper lanterns.

• In the Colombian Caribbean Candlemas Day is also widely celebrated. Families gather and stay up all night sharing food and celebrating. In Barranquilla, a path is lit with coloured lanterns on wooden ribbons to welcome the passing of the Virgin.

Alexander Grey / Unsplash - Photography

WorldRemit wishes you a happy Candlemas Day, Colombia

According to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approximately 4.7 million Colombians live outside their homeland. 

Most of them leave their country in search of work opportunities in order to improve their living standards and those of their families. Others travel to other countries to study and build a future. 

Whatever the circumstances are that mean you are far from Colombia, at WorldRemit we want to help you feel a little closer to home and celebrate the holidays by sending your loved ones any help in an easy, simple and very secure way through the various payment options we offer.

SENDING MONEY TO COLOMBIA

Whether you're reading this from Colombia or somewhere abroad, we at WorldRemit would like to wish you a very happy Little Candles Day!

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