Salt + Light Media Menu
Salt + Light Media Home
Magnifying Glass

Hope-filled Advent traditions in Colombia | Advent Around the World

Katia Bejarano

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Children in Colombia celebrate the Immaculate Conception of Mary (Photo credit: Reg Natarajan, cropped and used under the terms of licence CC BY 2.0.
From my window in Toronto, I see the snowflakes falling on the pine trees in my backyard. They quickly disappear leaving me with a sense of hope for the days to come.
Nature seems to have begun its seasonal transformation, beckoning us to reflect on the passing year, inviting us to prayer and preparation and to feel within ourselves the sublime and indefinable love Christmas brings with the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
In my hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia, the northern winds arrive, the heat softens, and hope seems to come into our homes from underneath our doors. We feel great anticipation for the coming of Him who brought us a message of love and brotherhood, Jesus. At Sunday Mass, we feel joyful with messages that make hope feel real. Family dinners after Mass carry with them the excitement and hopeful expectation of seeing all our loved ones when Christmas arrives.
Advent begins for us on December 7th with the Day of the Little Candles, celebrating the Virgin Mary and the Immaculate Conception. It is the official start to Christmas festivities in Colombia. To celebrate the Mother of Jesus, parties are organized at night with family and friends sharing moments of joy while dancing to the rhythm of our beautiful Colombian music. Before dawn breaks and the new day begins, we come out and start lighting candles and colourful lanterns, placing them in our front gardens adorning the streets of our cities. Catholics all around the country honour the Virgin Mary imagining her passing through the streets illuminated with flames of love.
During Advent we feel an air of hope that strengthens our faith. Nativity scenes, villages, and figurines are dusted off and decorated amid the hubbub of children and the laughter of their parents and family members. Children write wish lists of presents they hope Baby Jesus will bring on December 25th and leave them at the foot of the manger. Joy is everywhere.
When December 16th arrives, families gather to pray the Novena de Aguinaldos, honouring the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, and Baby Jesus. For nine days families and friends gather in a different home each night until Christmas Eve, preparing for the coming of Baby Jesus. We pray and sing Christmas songs accompanied by guitars and other musical instruments while sharing appetizers and sweet treats.
The beautiful days of Advent make us feel and believe in the possibility that one day men and women from every corner of the earth will be able to live in harmony, understanding our differences and recognizing our similarities. In this waiting for the coming of the One who showed us a path of love and understanding, we continue to hope the birth of Jesus will bring us to that path.
In my native Colombia, Jesus lives in our traditions and celebrations. His arrival is awaited with music, food, love, and hope. In my Canada, snowfall brings prayers, Christmas carols, and Christmas markets. Children in both look forward to December 25th. It’s Navidad; it’s Christmas. Let us enjoy our children's excitement during the festivities, and may our preparations to receive Jesus motivate us to write down our hopes and prayers, which we will leave at the foot of the manger.
May these days in the midst of temperate winds and snow allow us to reflect on the ever-present Christmas message of the arrival of Jesus, and may we, as followers of Christ, continue to strive to truly live in unity, peace, and justice.

Katia Bejarano is a retired lawyer who specialized in Colombian corporate labour law. She also holds a business degree from Tulane University. A volunteer at the Art Gallery of Ontario and part-time employee of the Canadian Opera Company, she is a wife, mother, and grandmother.


Related Articles:

Tag: 世界社會傳播日

教宗方濟各第59屆世界社會傳播日文告

Sunday, June 1, 2025

鹽與光

教宗方濟各:「在這充滿災難的時代,因想到禧年是我們所擁有的恩寵時刻,我願意在這訊息裡,邀請你們成為「希望的傳播者」,以福音精神更新你們的工作與使命。」

教宗第 58 屆世界社會傳播日文告:「人工智能與人心智慧: 邁向圓滿人性的傳播」

Thursday, May 9, 2024

鹽與光

普世教會將於2024年5月9日(耶穌升天節)慶祝第58屆世界社會傳播日,教宗在本屆世界社會傳播日文告主題為「人工智能與人心智慧: 邁向圓滿人性的傳播」。

教宗第57屆世界社會傳播日文告:用「心」發言 「在愛德中持守真理。」(弗4:15)

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

鹽與光

教會將於5月21日主日慶祝第57屆世界社會傳播日。本屆教宗文告的主題取自厄弗所書第4章15節:『用「心」發言 「在愛德中持守真理。』他表示:「我們要從心中發出正確的話語,以驅散使世人封閉和分裂的陰影,並且要建立一個文明,比我們所領受的要更加美好。這要求我們每一個人都要投身其中,而在傳播界工作的人更要有這樣的責任 感,好使他們因視他們的專業為使命而全力以赴。」中文版文告由天主教會臺灣地區主教團恭譯。

教宗方濟各第56屆世界社會傳播日文告:「用內心的耳朵去聆聽」

Friday, May 27, 2022

鹽與光

普世教會將於2022年5月29日(耶穌升天節)慶祝第56屆世界社會傳播日,教宗方在本屆世界社會傳播日文告主題為「「用內心的耳朵去聆聽」,當中指出,聆聽是人與人溝通必不可少的第一步,具備愛的幅度。

張汝南執事-耶穌升天節主日反省

Friday, May 14, 2021

張汝南執事

張汝南執事:「今天我們慶祝耶穌升天節和世界社會傳播日,感謝敎會美善的安排,今天的讀經和福音使我們更加瞭解基督徒的責任和使命:『你們往普天下去,向一切受造物,宣傳福音!』谷16:15 『為祂作證人。』參閱宗1:8 同時,亦多謝敎宗撰寫今年傳播日文告:『你來看一看吧』若1:46」

SUPPORT LABEL

Receive our newsletters
Stay Connected
Receive our newsletters
Stay Connected
Copyright © 2025 Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation
Registered Charity # 88523 6000 RR0001
FR | CH