THE 5 MOST POPULAR FESTIVALS OF THE ORINOQUÍA REGION - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

Among the most important festivals of the Orinoquía region are the Festival de la Negrera, the Festival de Cuadrillas, the National Festival of the Song and the International Tournament of Joropo, the Patron Saint Festivities of Arauca and the World Meeting of Coleo.

These events represent the greatest expression of folklore and customs in this region, made up of the Colombian departments of Arauca, Casanare, Meta and Vichada, located in the eastern plains.

There are dozens of celebrations, festivities and contests throughout the year in each of the departments of the region.

However, the five parties mentioned above are among the most prominent and popular on the holiday calendar.

The 5 parties

1- Festival of the Negrera

This festival takes place in Arauquita, department of Arauca, starting on December 8 of each year, when the "time for the negreras" begins.

This name is used for popular celebrations in which people dye their bodies black, characterizing Spanish kings, Moors, and other courtiers. In this festival they use costumes in the Spanish style of the Colony.

Each comparsa or negrera carries a flag to distinguish itself from the others. The activity starts at six in the afternoon and runs until midnight.

During that time they sing and dance to the rhythm of the tambora, furruco, cuatro, charrasca and flute. It is a tradition that comes from Venezuela.

The time of the negreras ends on February 2, the day of the freedmen and of the Virgen de la Candelaria.

The programming of these festivals includes religious activities, cockfights, coleus and horse races and parties.

2- Festival of Crews

It is carried out in the municipality of San Martín, department of Meta; That is why it is known as the San Martín gangs.

These popular celebrations are the oldest in the country. They date back to 1785, when the village priest, Gabino de Balboa, organized a festivity to celebrate the end of the year.

The festival at that time consisted of an equestrian choreography in which four comparsas participated, each of which symbolized a race.

These races were the blacks, the Indians, the Spaniards, and the Arabs, who intervened in the process of social formation in Spanish America.

3- National Song Festival and International Joropo Tournament

This celebration was held for the first time in 1960, exactly the year in which the Meta territory was elevated to the category of department.

This festival is organized in the city of Villavicencio and there are tailed bull competitions, competitions for works in the plain, typical gastronomy, handicraft samples and artistic exhibitions, such as sculpture and painting.

The most prominent singers, musicians, composers and dancers of llanera music, both from Colombia and Venezuela, take part in the festival, the latter as guests or as contestants.

4- Arauca Patron Festivities

These festivities are in honor of the Virgin of Santa Bárbara. They are one of the most representative of Llanero folklore, since the most renowned artists (musicians, singers and composers) participate in them, as well as collectors from Colombia and Venezuela.

The dances, parades, exhibitions, processions and other religious activities are the most genuine representation of the traditions, customs and idiosyncrasy of the plains people.

5- World Coleus Meeting

This sport originating in this Colombian-Venezuelan region is part of the popular llaneras festivals, as it is intimately linked with their culture.

During this event artistic activities are carried out that include dance and song competitions, gastronomic festivals and exhibitions.

It takes place from March 20 to 22 and between 200 and 400 collectors from various Latin American countries take part, such as Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, Brazil and Mexico.

References

1. Martín, Miguel Ángel (1979). Llanero folklore. Villavicencio: Lit. Juan XXIII. Retrieved on October 24, 2017 from banrepcultural.org
2. National Song Festival and International Joropo Tournament. Consulted of colombiaparatodos.wikispaces.com
3. Orinoquía region (Colombia). Consulted of es.wikipedia.org
4. Fairs and parties. Consulted of orinoquiaco.blogspot.com
5. Fairs and festivals in Colombia. Consulted of fefico.blogspot.com
6. Fairs and Festivities of Colombia. Consulted of feriasyfiestasdecolombia10.blogspot.com