All Saints' Day is a religious festival that remembers the known and unknown saints of the Catholic Church.

From lighting candles to erecting nativity scenes, this is how Colombia kicks of the Christmas season.

The Alboradas

To kick off the season, Medellin hosts the Alboradas, a special event on December first, showcasing fireworks and firecrackers to prepare for Christmas.

Little Candles’ Day

Little Candles' Day, or Día de las Velitas, marks the beginning of Christmas in Colombia, where thousands of tiny candles are lit on December 7th. The display varies across Colombia, with Bogota lighting candles on windowsills and balconies, while Cali residents light candles early on December 8th.

Aguinaldos

Juegos de aguinaldos are games played during the nights of the Novenas, which occur on the nine nights leading up to Christmas. The games include: three feet or tres pies, in which players try to place one foot between their opponents` feet without them noticing.

Colombian families look forward to these annual games, and in some cases, extended family will come early to visit so that they can be present for all nine nights.

Waiting for Baby Jesus

Santa Claus is well-known in many parts of Colombia.

However, Colombians typically don`t keep with the Christmas tradition of leaving treats out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. Instead, Columbians believe that the baby Jesus brings them.

Praying the Novena

Colombian Christmas traditions are closely linked to Catholic customs. Most Colombians are Catholics, and praying the novenas is a common practice that takes place on the days leading up to Christmas from December 16th to 24th. Similarly, the novena is prayed and celebrated in a different house each night. The Christmas prayers are repeated privately or collectively during the novenas and are read aloud from a book circulated among the attendees.

Often, neighbors take turns hosting the evening prayers, and people enjoy Christmas food and conversation after praying.

Christmas Lights

Every year, people go out for a walk or take different bus routes that tour the city to admire the Christmas decorations. With an annual attendance of over four million visitors and a budget of $10 million USD, the Medellin Christmas lights are the city`s most popular tourist attraction — considered by National Geographic magazine as one of the 10 most amazing in the world. If you have the opportunity to visit South America or travel to Colombia during the holidays, it`s worthwhile.

Colombian Christmas dinner

Christmas in Colombia culminates with a family meal on Christmas Eve, which Colombians call “Noche Buena“or “the good night.

Attending mass

Just as it is in many countries in South America and Europe that have Catholic roots, mass is an important part of Colombian Christmas traditions.

Many families head to midnight mass after the Christmas meal on Christmas Eve. When mass ends, it`s officially Christmas Day.

Nativity scenes

Just as with Christmas lights, Colombians take the nativity scene to the next level.

In some places, the whole cityscape becomes Bethlehem during the season, and the decorations typically stay up throughout the Christmas period.

Day of the Innocents

The fun of a Colombian Christmas doesn’t stop on December 25. Three days later, on December 28, Colombians celebrate the Day of the Innocents. This holiday is similar to April Fools Day, with people playing practical jokes and pranks on each other. As a part of the overall Christmas traditions, Colombians view the holiday as a time to raise their spirits so that they can joyously enter the new year.

Three Kings Day

The celebration of Three Kings Day is the last part of the traditional Colombian Christmas season. Observed January 6, it is a day for remembring the journey the wise men took to see the Nino Jesus. In some parts of Colombia, children leave their shoes by the door in hopes that the three kings will fill them with treats. Many cities throughout the country host parades for the holiday, and families often gather to enjoy one last Christmas meal as well as the glow of the Christmas tree and other decorations.

In 1971, All Saints' Day was declared as a public holiday.

Today, Colombians celebrate the tradition visiting cemeteries, decorating alters, and share meals as a tribute to departed loved ones.

Cartagena Independence Day is a day of celebration in Colombia. It celebrates Cartagena finally being free from Spanish rule on November 11th, 1811. On Cartagena Independence Day, the city puts on a series of parades, music, and dances.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a significant Marian feast in the Latin Church, celebrating the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Christmas in Colombia is the same Christmas the rest of the world celebrates. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our lord and savior Jesus Christ.

The city of Cartagena celebrates their independence with festivals and colorful float parades. There, people enjoy music and dance performances that are inspired by African and Caribbean rhythms.

A tradition of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is lighting candle during the prayer service and place it in the sand at the base of a statue of Mary.