About Day of the Little Candles
Dia de las Velitas, the Day of the Little Candles or Little Candles’ Night is celebrated each year on 7th December. This is observed as a traditional holiday in Colombia. The festival begins at sunset on 7th December and ends at sunrise on 8th December. The celebration is all about the eve of Immaculate Conception and 8th December marks unofficially as the start of the Christmas Season in Colombia.
People place paper lanterns and candles on their windowsills on this particular night. The candles and lanterns are also placed on porches, balconies, streets, sidewalks, squares and parks. Everywhere you turn, you will be able to see these candles and lanterns. They are placed to honour Virgin Mary and the Immaculate Conception. It is a traditional ritual on 8th December for all houses in Colombia to hoist white flags with the Virgin’s image and this flag is made to fly all day long. Numerous events are held on this day, ranging from competitions to firework displays.
Homes, landmarks and tombs in cemeteries are illuminated on the eve of 8th December to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception as a mark of respect to honour the maternity of Virgin Mary and also to bring in the holiday season as a grand welcome. This festival is given high importance in Colombia.
Celebration of the Little Candles’ Night in Colombia dates back to 1854. That was when Pope Pius IX stated the dogma of the Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Conception and published it as `Ineffabilis Deus’ as an Apostolic constitution.
At the time, people were excited in anticipation of this decision and lit paper lanterns and candles as a sign of support of this spiritual idea. Colombia’s Catholic Church kept this celebration alive since then and has made it an annual festival of lighting the candles on 7th December’s night.
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