What is the name of the Colombian tradition of lighting candles on December 7?

The Colombian tradition of lighting candles on December 7 is called Día de las Velitas.

Día de las Velitas, or “Day of the Little Candles,” is celebrated across Colombia from the evening of December 7 into December 8. Families and communities place candles and colorful paper lanterns outside homes, along streets, in windows, and near churches. The glowing displays mark the beginning of the Christmas season for many Colombians.

The observance is linked to the Catholic Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8. Its modern history is commonly connected with Pope Pius IX’s proclamation of the Immaculate Conception as Catholic dogma in 1854. Lighting candles became a way for Colombian Catholics to honor the Virgin Mary on the eve of the feast.

Celebrations vary by region. Some towns organize processions, public illuminations, fireworks, music, or neighborhood competitions for the most imaginative lanterns. In Bogotá, candles and lanterns often decorate doors and windows, while other regions may extend festivities beyond one night. Día de las Velitas is not Día de los Muertos, which is a separate remembrance tradition associated primarily with Mexico.