In many areas of the country, people reunite on their вЂњfincasвЂќ to make a human size rag doll stuffed with fireworks. On the 31st of December we say good bye to the old year and prepare ourselves to receive the New Year.

We typically wake up very late, eat leftovers, play more music, and have more fun. Many families after going to mass on the 24th and celebrating вЂњLa NochebuenaвЂќ continue partying the next day on the 25th. And What Happens After вЂњLa Nochebuena?вЂќ вЂњEl AГ±o NuevoвЂќ It is a nice tradition because requires many people to hold many corners of the вЂњgloboвЂќ while one person lights it. We also love to вЂњelevar globosвЂќ which are paper globes that we light inside to let them fly freely in the sky. Many people вЂњquema pГіlvoraвЂќ or light fireworks during the month of December even though they are prohibited. Other Typical Christmas Traditions in Colombia We also have вЂњponche de frutasвЂќ or fruit punch, and вЂњMicheladasвЂќ which are beers with salt and lemon. My mom used to make a multicoloredВ gelatinВ dessert with вЂњleche consensadaвЂќ or condensed milk that always turned out to be delicious.ДЇor dessert, people who live on the Atlantic coast prefer вЂњarroz con cocoвЂќ or coconutВ rice pudding, and people who live in the colder states close to the capital prefer вЂњpostre de natas,вЂќ which is made with milk and condensed milk cooked with sugar, cinnamon and raisins.ДЄt midnight we toast with вЂњaguardiente,вЂќ rum or champagne. вЂњBuГ±uelosвЂќ or cheesy fritters, вЂњarepasвЂќ a thick corn mass, вЂњempanadas,вЂќ вЂњhojuelasвЂќ a fried dough pastry with sugar and jam are amongst the favorite munchies. Postres de Navidad (Photo credit: Cris Valencia)Дuring Christmas in Colombia the entire country enjoys a dessert called вЂњNatilla.вЂќ We make it with cinnamon, corn starch, milk, вЂњpanelaвЂќ a hard sweetener from sugar cane, and cloves. We do the вЂњasadoвЂќ with coal not gas, and it is outdoors while we enjoy the wonderful weather. If you are celebrating Christmas in Colombia on a farm, which is what we call our second homes, the main dish is a roasted pig or an вЂњasadoвЂќ which includes a variety of grilled meats.

The main dish can be pork, ham or even Ajiaco Bogotano,В a hearty chicken soup people from the capital cook. In Colombia Christmas gives an opportunity to indulge in typicalВ foodsВ by enjoying a special вЂњCena de NavidadвЂќ or Christmas Eve dinner. The older ones stay up late and participate in games like finding the baby Jesus with money that one of the adultsВ previously hid.

The youngest ones fall asleep before midnight. We let our children stay up late expecting to see baby Jesus delivering presents. We buy gifts and ask the children to help us wrap them to deliver them at corner streets where less fortunate children may be begging. It can also remain on display for baby Jesus to read.Д¬hristmas traditionsВ in Colombia also have a lot to do with giving during this time of the year.

The letter goes in the nativity from where it mysteriously disappears, meaning baby Jesus took it so he can know what presents to place on or near your bed on the 24th of December. The first thing they do is to write a Carta al NiГ±o Diosor baby Jesus. There is no doubt, celebrating Christmas in Colombia is a major event for our children. The novena can rotate from one home to another or in many cases, the grand parents host it and everybody brings a dish. InauguraciГіn de la Navidad en la UTPL (Photo credit: UTPL Unidad de GestiГіn de la ComunicaciГіn)Д®ach night of the novena we sing вЂњvillancicosвЂќ or Spanish Christmas carols and enjoy typicalВ HispanicВ ChristmasВ foods.

Dia de las velitas