9 FESTIVITIES OF THE ANDEAN REGION OF COLOMBIA - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The festivals of the Andean region of Colombia reveal the folklore of this region. In them, features of indigenous, black and Spanish traditions are manifested in both religious and secular celebrations.

Many of these festivals are related to the religious calendar of Catholicism and remain in force since two thirds of the Colombian population considers themselves practicing Catholics.

Festivities of the Andean region of Colombia

Secular festivals, for their part, maintain a relationship with indigenous, black, peasant and urban traditions, with musicians and dancers being the officiants or conductors of the festive ritual.

Main religious festivals of the Andean region

There are very many religious festivals, whether of Catholic influence or with indigenous or African roots that take place in the Andean region of Colombia.

Some of the busiest and most touristy are the following:

Candlemas Festival

It is officiated in almost all the municipalities of the Andean region. Its date of celebration is February 2 and it has been registered for several centuries as one of the most important devotions.

Bullfights are also held on this festival, direct evidence of the Spanish influence.

Black and white carnival

It is related to the religious festival of the Magi. It is also called the Fiesta de los Negritos because the participants paint their faces with charcoal to remember the black magician king Baltazar on his visit to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.

It is celebrated between January 5 and 7 of each year. In 2002 it was declared as Cultural Heritage of Colombia. Its origins are Catholic and syncretized with African cults.

Festivities of San Juan and San Pedro

They are celebrated between June 23 and 30. The towns most devoted to these festivals are those of Tolima, Huila, El Guamo, San Agustín and Melgar.

It has Catholic roots and the African Yoruba religion. It is also known as the Bambuco Festivities in Neiva.

The Feast of Corpus Christi

This celebration mixes indigenous and Catholic traditions as it is a festival where the land is thanked with a large exhibition of fruits and flowers.

It is celebrated in June in the town of Anolaima in Cundinamarca.

Secular festivals

Parades, dances, bullfights and a lot of music are the constant in the festivals of the Colombian Andean regions

The Manizales Fair

This Spanish-influenced fair has the characteristic features of a carnival. Parades, bullfights, dances are held and beauty queens are chosen in popular contests such as the International Coffee Kingdom.

Large cultural events such as the National Trova Festival or the National Folk Festival are also held around this fair.

Silleteros Parade

It has its origin in indigenous traditions. The aborigines of the locality carried chairs on their backs to carry food or carry children.

In commemoration every August 7 in Santa Elena (Medellín) there is a parade with more than 90 varieties of flowers that are carried on the backs of the participants.

International Festival of Culture

Although its date is recent (1977) it represents one of the main cultural festivities of today in the Colombian Andean region.

It takes place in May in Tunja and there are concerts of academic and popular music, art exhibitions, conferences and all the news from the artistic and cultural world of the region.

References

1. Ocampo, J. (2006). Colombian folklore, customs and traditions. Bogotá: Plaza & Janes. Retrieved on October 21, 2017 from: books.google.es
2. Miñana, C. (2009). Party and music. Transformations of a relationship in the Andean Cauca of Colombia. Lima: Dupligráficas Ltda. Retrieved on October 21, 2017 from: infoartes.pe
3. Koorn, D. (1977) Folk music of the Colombian Andes. Washintong: Washington University. Retrieved on October 21, 2017 from: books.google.es
4. Borsdorf, A; Stadel, C. (2015). The Andes. A Geographical Portrail. Switzerland: Austral. Retrieved on October 21, 2017 from: books.google.es
5. Seven customs of Colombia. Retrieved on October 21, 2017 from: viajesla.com.co
6. Jaramillo, J. (sf). Peasants of the Andes. Bogotá: National University of Colombia. Retrieved on October 21, 2017 from: magazines.unal.edu.co