"Hey! Hold on a tick...why is he writing about Christmas in February?!"
Relax folks, it was December, we all know how busy a time that can be; one must worry about shopping, driving through parks to look at Christmas lights, taking your grandma to water aerobics, going to parties and drinking from spiked-eggnog punch bowls until you have to be carried out by embarrassed family members(wait, maybe that just pertains to me). Let's just say the last two months, this writer was on vacation.
When looking back, I got to spend most of the Christmas season down here in Medellin, Colombia, which is a subject I am pretty sure is unknown to most people from North America and definitely needs to be addresses. In the simplest terms, Christmas in Colombia shares a lot in common with the way us Gringos up North celebrate it, however still retains a sort of uniqueness all its own, reflective of the people and their culture.
First, we'll bring it in for the real thing: hug it out and talk about what we share in common. After being in Spain and knowing how they spend Christmas, it is quite different from standard USA holiday season practice. Therefore, I thought that might translate to Colombian culture as well. However, quite the contrary. They don't celebrate Thanksgiving down here obviously, so I kid you not, Christmas decorations start coming out on store shelves in October-people are barely done slipping out of their sweat-stained Halloween costumes and there are already people sporting Santa hats at their version of Home Depot down here.
Christmas lights? You got em. Porcelain nativity scenes and santas and santas helpers and reindeer? Done. Kids bugging parents with endless present lists? Oh yeah, got them too. And of course, one cannot forget the two universal symbols of Christmas in many Western Cultures: Jesus and the Christmas tree. Now, Colombia and Latin America in general are pretty intense Catholics, so I don't have to say how many Nativity scenes are set up everywhere and people going to Mass like everyday. Instead, I want to tell of an amazing display that Medellin is world renown for (not trying to take any thunder away from my main man Jesus): The Alumbrado.
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| Carlos and me at the alumbrado |
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| Will, Dan, and Carlos! |
Every December, Colombia and all its citizens are anxiously waiting for the clock to strike midnight on the first of the month. It is basically the biggest Christmas party you can imagine, because the whole city participates vivaciously at the same time. On that night, a display of lights and decorations is switched on that consumes so much enegry, city residents in Medellin pay a special tax for December, just to help power the display. The Alumbrado is a yearly event that takes place in mutiple parts of the city, with spectaulcar light displays and carnival like atmospheres. However, the main light display is always on the River Medellin and stretches for a couple miles. All of December, families, couples, whoever, all gather at this point of the city to stroll the banks of the river and enjoy the lights. They are quite a sight indeed (see pics below). They are so intricate in design, that they take a year to plan and set up, so on January 2nd they are already planning for next year. Medellin now sells their light shows to other cities around the world once they are done with them- talk about a hot export.
Now for some differences. Snow, yeah, that ain't ever happening here. Second, Colombians are famous for being hardcore party people, but December is a whole 'nother level- January is when most people take vacation down here and I believe it is because they need a month to detox. On December 1st, fireworks are being launched all over the city, and the party goes until January 2nd. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, etc...you get the point. Everyday is a festival. What makes it fun is that whole neighborhoods get in on the action. I mean you can walk into any barrio and there are legit block parties going on that stretch blocks upon blocks; people making stews in huge iron pots in the middle of the street, sausages and other little tasty morsels being served faster than they can be consumed, and tons and tons of booze. If you are ever going to come to Colombia for the sole reason of partying, December might be the month for you.
However, one thing I really like about this Holiday Season in Medellin was the "Night of Candles" which is on the first Friday and Saturday of December. Everyone in the city slips into the streets to light candles on any surface they can find. It is quite an extraordinary sight when you see thousands of candles lit and stuck to curbs, benches, railings, and basically anywhere there is space. Obviously, in the USA, nothing like this would ever fly and we would be violating some type of fire code, but here Colombia...tradition trumps law sometimes. Check out some videos and pics of the night:
So all in all, Christmas was a great month. I also competed in a Crossfit tournament, and placed in the top 30 or so of my bracket, which was over 100 some competitors. Although I was invited to spend Christmas Eve with my friend Santiago at his parent's farmhouse, I decided to book a flight home on December 23 and surprise my family! Only problem was, I missed my connecting flight on Dec 23, so I had to sleep in Fort Lauderdale airport and get on the next flight on the next day at 5am. Pretty brutal trip, but my best friend Bono picked me up from the airport and secretly brought me to my house in Allison Park, and no one in my family had the slightest clue I was coming home for Christmas. There really is nothing that beats a white Christmas and sipping some warm Colombian coffee with family on Christmas morning. After a month of good tidings and good company to warm the soul, I returned to the city of eternal spring; and what happens next, well that belongs to the next chapter and the beginning of a new adventure for this young hobbit.
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| Kit Pic 2012 |
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| Love that baby |
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| the younger siblings |
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| Uncle Bill holding his niece Eli for the first time! |
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