Most Wonderful Time of the Year – December 2018

Yes we saw thousands of outdoor Christmas lights in and around Medellin, but we also experienced many other Christmas traditions during December.

Shopping Malls – Large and small shopping malls added lights, reindeer, decorated trees, wreaths, crèche displays, and areas to visit with Santa. One mall included a fun, two-story Christmas tree made from helium-filled balloons. (See video below.)

Even one of the two main bus stations decorated for. Christmas

Neighborhood Decorations – Many apartment and house residents added some type of outdoor holiday decorations. Some apartment dwellers even coordinated the light themes for the balconies in their building. We rode the metro cable three or four times and enjoyed the aerial view of festive neighborhoods featuring colorful banners and Christmas characters (Santa, reindeer, bells, trees) painted on the street surfaces.

City Program Guide – Medellin creates a 100+ page guide listing festivals, concerts, light displays, performances, and tours happening November 30 through January 7. We only saw an electronic version and we are assuming that the city did not print any paper copies since most residents have smart phones.

Midnight Fireworks – At midnight on Nov 30/Dec 1 the city of Medellin erupts with firework displays all around the city. During our visit most of the colorful flashing lights and noise lasted 45 minutes, but some neighborhoods celebrated with fireworks until almost sunrise.

Dia de las Velitas (Little Candles Day) – This holiday, December 7th, is one of most celebrated in Columbia. We saw people carry lighted candles in a procession and place colorful candles on sidewalks and in parks. The celebration originated in the mid 1850’s and candles were lit to express belief in the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. The procession we witnessed in the town of Jardin included a statue of the Virgin Mary transported through the streets on a classic Ford truck. On our way home from the Metro station that evening we saw quite a few candles on the sidewalks in front of restaurants.

Preparing for the procession in Jardin
Conclusion of the procession inside Basilica Menor de la Immaculada Concepcion
Candles in Premier Parque, Laureles
Lighting candles in Laureles
Remnants of candles the next morning

Special Creche Display – The Christmas decorations in Parque Principal in Envigado included a large Crèche display of ceramic figures. We spent quite a bit of time looking at all the interesting and intricate details of the seasonal artwork.