Colombia (Lonely Planet, 5th Edition) - Jens Porup [4]
* * *
Return to beginning of chapter
Events Calendar
* * *
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
FEBRUARY & MARCH
MARCH & APRIL
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER & JANUARY
* * *
Colombians love a party, and when they let their hair down – whoa, you’re in for a treat. Almost every small town, it seems, has an annual bash, with beauty pageants, parades, live music, bullfights, and lots and lots of drinking. Many of Colombia’s biggest events happen around Christmas and run into the new year. Semana Santa (Holy Week), during Easter, is also cause for much celebration with pomp and ceremony in many smaller colonial towns, attracting tourists and worshippers from around the world.
Return to beginning of chapter
JANUARY
* * *
Return to beginning of chapter
CARNAVAL DE BLANCOS Y NEGROS Jan 5-6
Pasto’s annual post-Christmas bash, the Carnaval de Blancos y Negros (see boxed text), originated during Spanish rule, when slaves were allowed to celebrate on January 5 and their masters joined in the festivities by painting their faces black. On the following day, the slaves painted their faces white. These days, pretty much everyone gets roaring drunk and throws talcum powder in everyone else’s faces until you’re coughing up powdery mucus. Great fun.
Return to beginning of chapter
FERIA DE MANIZALES
The highlight of Manizales’ annual festival Click here is the bullfighting – the feria (fair) attracts some of the world’s best bullfighters and Colombia’s feistiest bulls. There’s also the usual assortment of parades and craft fairs and, of course, a beauty pageant.
Return to beginning of chapter
FEBRUARY
* * *
Return to beginning of chapter
FIESTA DE NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA CANDELARIA Feb 2
A solemn procession is held in Cartagena to honor the town’s patron saint at the Convento de la Popa, during which the faithful carry lit candles. Celebrations begin nine days earlier, the so-called Novenas, when pilgrims flock to the convent.
Return to beginning of chapter
FEBRUARY & MARCH
* * *
Return to beginning of chapter
CARNAVAL DE BARRANQUILLA
Forty days before Easter is Mardi Gras, or Carnaval as it’s known in Colombia. Barranquilla’s Carnaval (see boxed text) is the second biggest in South America after Rio de Janeiro’s in Brazil. This otherwise grim port city goes crazy with four days of drinking and dancing. There are parades, costumes and a marathon concert of Colombian musical groups. It concludes on Fat Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday) with the symbolic burial of ‘festival icon’ Joselito Carnaval.
Return to beginning of chapter
MARCH & APRIL
* * *
Return to beginning of chapter
SEMANA SANTA IN POPAYÁN
The most famous Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebration is held in Popayán Click here, with nighttime processions on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Thousands of believers and tourists come to take part in this religious ceremony and the accompanying festival of religious music.
Return to beginning of chapter
SEMANA SANTA IN MOMPOX
Colombia’s second-most important Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebration is in the sleepy river town of Mompox, near the Caribbean coast.
Return to beginning of chapter
FESTIVAL IBEROAMERICANO DE TEATRO
Held during Semana Santa (Holy Week), this biennial festival of Latin American theater Click here takes place every even-numbered year, and ends with a fireworks spectacular in Bogotá’s football stadium.
Return to beginning of chapter
AUGUST
* * *
Return to beginning of chapter
FESTIVAL DE MÚSICA DEL PACIFICO PETRONIO ÁLVAREZ
This Cali festival Click here celebrates the music of the nearby Pacific coast.
Return to beginning of chapter
FERIA DE LAS FLORES early Aug
This weeklong feria is Medellín’s most spectacular event. The highlight is the Desfile de Silleteros, when up to 400 campesinos (peasants) come down from the mountains and parade along the streets carrying flowers on their backs.
Return to beginning of chapter
SEPTEMBER
* * *
Return to beginning of chapter
FESTIVAL