Colombia is rich and diverse in its traditions, reflecting the country’s history, cultures and environment. The coastal city of Barranquilla seems to literally burst into color and song every year in February for one of the world’s largest Carnival festivals. Medellín hosts the annual Feria de las Flores, showcasing the region’s flower-growing legacy. Around the country, Colombians gather on December 7 for Día de las Velitas, officially the start of the Christmas season, lining the streets with dazzling candles. Whenever the local soccer team plays might as well be considered a holiday, too! Colombians take their passion for soccer to an almost religious level.
These major holidays have been wonderful to experience, but they are just the tip of the iceberg. As somebody that lives full-time in a small Colombian town, it is honestly the subtler traditions making up daily life that have most impacted me. I’ve learned that the quiet gestures, rituals and practices are what define a community.
