Christmas in Medellín: What to do this December 2024

Christmas in Medellín is quite curious, as besides being considered the brightest in Latin America for its famous lights, it includes a series of celebrations that extend throughout the month of December and transform the city into the perfect destination to end the year.

As such, Christmas is one of the most important festivities in Christianity and commemorates the birth of Jesus on December 25th. But apart from the religious tradition, this is a time when we gather with our loved ones to celebrate with good music and delicious food.

Travelers who visit us during the Christmas season will find a super lively atmosphere, good weather, and a vibrant culture full of traditions and unmissable activities that I will tell you about in this post.

What will you find in this post?

  • How is Christmas celebrated in Medellín?
  • Christmas lights
  • Traditional food
  • Christmas music
  • Religious traditions
  • Parties
  • Superstitions

What to do in Medellín during Christmas?

  • See the lights in Medellín and the Metropolitan Area
  • Ride a party bus
  • Taste local cuisine
  • Visit nearby towns

What to see in Medellín at Christmas?

  • Pueblito Paisa
  • Parques del Río
  • Parque Norte

Where to spend Christmas in Medellín?

Important Christmas dates in Medellín

  • December 7: Day of the Little Candles
  • December 8: Parade of Myths and Legends
  • December 16-25: Christmas Novenas, Christmas Eve, and Christmas
  • December 31: New Year’s Eve

Recommendations

How is Christmas celebrated in Medellín?

In Colombia, December is a month to rejoice with family and friends, a moment of renewal as the current year ends and the next one begins.

December means vacations, spending money on gifts for others and our own “estrén” (what we call new clothes), returning to the ancestral home, traveling to other places, eating without reservations, drinking, dancing, partying, and, of course, awaiting the arrival of Baby Jesus.

I’m not trying to generalize here; there are many ways to experience December within the country. In Medellín, for example, houses are adorned with Christmas lights, and the Aburrá Valley looks like a large colorful nativity scene that stays lit for the 31 days of the month.

In popular neighborhoods, the party spills onto the streets. Entire blocks are closed to traffic, people blast their music, set up cooking pots in the street, and cook everything from sancocho to natilla.

In middle and upper-class neighborhoods, gatherings tend to be more intimate, inside houses with large meals. Until recently, my family had the tradition of gathering on Christmas Eve to pray the last novena and play “secret friend” (known as “secret santa” in other countries).

Despite the differences, there are certain customs that almost everyone who spends Christmas in Medellín practices or at least will not be unfamiliar to any Medellín resident.

Christmas lights

Monuments and illuminated figures are placed in different parts of the city such as the Medellín River, Parques del Río, Parque Norte, Pueblito Paisa, La 70, Las Palmas, and Avenida La Playa. Each year, the light installations change their theme.

Traditional food

To complement the main course during dinner, some of the most traditional recipes are buñuelos, natilla, and empanadas (all made from corn). Other sweet dishes include rice pudding and sugar-coated hojuelas.

Christmas music

Religious traditions

In addition to the carols that accompany the novenas, the most popular genre in Medellín is tropical music. This genre is played throughout the year, but it gains more strength in December. And the younger generations reinvent it from other genres.

Practically all the dates celebrated in December have a religious origin: the day of the Immaculate Conception, the Novena, Christmas Eve, and Christmas. Another of our customs is to set up a small nativity scene, where Baby Jesus is placed on the 25th.

Parties

While December in general is a month of celebration, the two most important dates are the 24th and the 31st. On both nights, people gather with their families. It is common for young people to go out afterward to well-known areas like La 45, Provenza, El Lleras, and La 70.

Superstitions

These are traditions performed at the end of the year to achieve a specific goal: money, love, health, etc. The most common ones are wearing yellow underwear, filling pockets with lentils, eating 12 grapes, and taking a walk around the block with a suitcase.

What to do in Medellín during Christmas?

The city receives a large number of tourists during this time, so there are plenty of plans designed to give you unforgettable experiences during the holidays. Here you will find some of the best tours and activities to do in the city.

See the lights in Medellín and the Metropolitan Area

Credits: El Tiempo

This is the quintessential Christmas plan in Medellín, as well as in other nearby municipalities that also have their own Christmas lights. These are visited by thousands of people every day. They are usually placed in public spaces, so entry is free, and you can walk through them.

The lights are distributed in various points of the city and around them you will find food establishments, street vendors, street performers, and many other quite entertaining fair attractions.

Montar en una chiva rumbera

Credits: Casacol

“Chivas” are means of transportation commonly seen in the rural areas of the country, where they are used for transporting passengers and goods. They are very artisanal because they are hand-painted, and each has different designs.

In the city, these vehicles have been adapted to host parties inside, so they are like small mobile discos where you can dance and explore the streets of the city at the same time. This year, you can take a full tour in a chiva not only to see the Christmas lights but also to visit the typical neighborhoods of Medellín.

Taste local cuisine
Credits: Guía Infantil

In the image above, I show you the typical “bandeja paisa,” but the local cuisine is much more varied. Believe me when I say that here you will find everything from fruits to desserts so delicious and exotic that their names don’t have a translation in any other language.

If you want to taste our most typical dishes and drinks like buñuelos, empanadas, and coffee, and also discover new flavors like borojó, this is the tour for you!

Travel to nearby towns

Credits: Puebliando por Antioquia

If you come to Medellín for at least 5 days, you’ll have enough time to visit some of its districts or nearby towns. The list of destinations is long and varied. You can even choose between different types of climates, as our region has everything from beaches to high-altitude plains.

The most famous, without a doubt, is Guatapé (photo above), one of the most beautiful towns in Colombia due to its colorful and artisanal houses. This destination boasts attractions such as the Piedra del Peñol and the reservoir. There you will find activities of all kinds: adventurous, artistic, religious, etc. Get ready to explore it!

Book a tour to the towns near Medellín.

Now, beyond the Christmas celebrations, there are many other great plans you can make when visiting Medellín at any time of the year.

What to see in Medellín at Christmas?

During Christmas, there are some tourist sites in Medellín that become must-visit stops. This is because they are the locations of the Christmas lights and host activities full of the Christmas spirit.

Pueblito Paisa

Medellín is located in a region of Colombia called Antioquia, and people from this region are known as “Paisas.” This site is a replica of a traditional Antioquian village and is the ideal place for three things: first, to eat a good “bandeja paisa”; second, to buy crafts and souvenirs; third, to appreciate a view of the city.

Parques del Río

This is a linear park right next to the Medellín River, where you can spend an afternoon eating, watching locals walk their pets, and practicing cultural activities like dancing and choreography. In December, it becomes the entrance to the Medellín River’s Christmas lights.

Parque Norte

If you want to add a bit of adrenaline to your trip, you can go to Parque Norte, which is located next to Parque Explora, the Botanical Garden, and the Parque de los Deseos. In addition to its attractions, in December they put up several illuminated figures on the beautiful lake in the center of the park.

If you want to make the most of your trip, don’t just stick to the places I just mentioned; here you can discover other tourist sites in the city.

Where to spend Christmas in Medellín?

In December, the level of tourism in the city increases significantly. If you plan to visit us during this time, it would be ideal to book accommodation in advance. In the following article, you will find the most complete guide to hotels in Medellín, where we talk about the best areas and all the hotels that can meet your needs.

Important Christmas dates in Medellín

  • December 1: Alborada
Credits: Dr. EG
This celebration takes place between November 30th and December 1st. It consists of a night of fireworks where people launch fireworks into the sky. This custom is relatively recent and has a somewhat dubious origin related to the demobilization of paramilitaries in the country.

You won’t find much information about it in official guides because the municipal administration is trying to eradicate this practice, partly due to the numerous accidents involving people getting burned with gunpowder and also because of the damage the explosions cause to our fauna.

I think it’s very important to be aware of this date because, like it or not, it marks the beginning of December and fireworks are here to stay. So during the “alborada,” don’t be alarmed if you hear explosions, and above all, take all necessary precautions if you’re coming with pets.

December 7: Day of the Little Candles
Credits: Zuma Press

In reality, this celebration takes place on December 7th and 8th. It is a ritual dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. During these two nights, people light candles and lanterns in the streets of the city.
Traditionally, long before the “alborada” started, the Day of the Little Candles marked the beginning of Christmas in Medellín. Even the Medellín Christmas lights are usually turned on this date. The candles have a special meaning, as when you light them, you can make a wish.
As a child, I wasn’t very aware of the religious background of this festivity. Instead, the kids in the family enjoyed making “devil’s candles,” which are large flames generated by mixing wax with other liquids on a hot metal surface.

December 8: Parade of Myths and Legends
Credits: El Tiempo

Myths and legends are narratives that originate from the oral tradition of the towns. Some of the most deeply rooted characters in our culture are the Madremonte, the Pata Sola, the Hojarasquín del Monte, the Llorona, and the Mohán.

Around December 8th, a festival takes place where different artistic groups personify these and many other characters to parade through the city.

December 16-25: Christmas Novenas, Christmas Eve, and Christmas
Credits: Cauca Extremo

The Novena of Aguinaldos is a Catholic tradition that takes place in Colombia and other Latin American countries. It consists of a prayer that is recited during the 9 days leading up to Christmas, from December 16th to 24th.
On December 24th, Christmas Eve is celebrated, which is when the typical Christmas dinner is held and the celebration continues until the next day, when Christmas arrives. In case you didn’t know, here the one who brings Christmas gifts is not Santa Claus, but the Baby Jesus (the newborn version of Jesus).

December 31: New Year’s Eve
Credits: Vivir en el Poblado

Just like in the rest of the world, New Year is celebrated here with parties, fireworks, and one of our unique traditions: “agüeros” (superstitions).
On this day, people go out into the streets wearing yellow underwear, put lentils in their pockets, and take a walk around the block with a suitcase. All of this is done in the hopes of bringing good fortune and prosperity for the coming year.

Recommendations
To wrap up, here are some tips you won’t find in any other city guide:

Keep in mind that, as this is such a commercial period, the prices of goods and services tend to rise more than at any other time of the year. However, this shouldn’t be a problem if you earn in dollars or euros.

Due to the high influx of visitors, police security is increased in tourist spots. But that doesn’t mean you can walk around with complete peace of mind. If you’re going to attend highly crowded events like the Christmas lights, carry only the essentials and don’t expose your belongings too much.

Again, although I personally don’t like it, I must warn you that fireworks and pyrotechnic displays are inevitable during December. If you’re coming with pets, you’ll need to take precautions to avoid the stress caused by the noise of the explosions.

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