| Día de las velitas Little Candles Day or Immaculate Conception Eve | |
|---|---|
 A house decorated with candles in Barranquilla | |
| Official name | Day of the Immaculate Conception |
| Observed by | Colombia |
| Type | State and religious |
| Celebrations | Lighting of candles and lanterns |
| Observances | Various religious processions |
| Begins | Sundown December 7 |
| Ends | Sunrise December 8 |
| Date | December 7 |
| Next time | 7 December 2024 |
| Frequency | annual |
| Related to | Christmas in Colombia |
Little Candles Day or Immaculate Conception Eve (Spanish: Día de las velitas) is a widely observed religious holiday in Colombia. It is celebrated on December 7 on the eve of the Immaculate Conception, which is a public holiday in Colombia. This day is the unofficial start of the Christmas season in the country, although the official day is the First Advent Sunday (between November 27th and December 3rd).[1]
On this night, people place candles and paper lanterns on windowsills, balconies, porches, sidewalks, streets, parks, and squares; in short, everywhere they can be seen, in honor of the Virgin Mary and her Immaculate Conception. On December 8 it is not mandatory to work and it is customary for houses to hoist a white flag with the image of the Virgin Mary all day. They also hold numerous events, from fireworks shows to competitions.
- ^ "Con Las Velitas Se Prende La Navidad". El Tiempo (in Spanish). 6 December 2003. Retrieved 25 November 2008.