Colombian Culture, Colombia Adoption and Raising Colombian Kids

Colombians have many different traditions (some of which are closer to superstitions) that are performed customarily at midnight on New Year's Eve. Each tradition has its own purpose and you cannot do them all; so, you'll have to choose your favorites. Here is a list of a few traditions you can try in your home: 1. Twelve grapes As the clock strikes 12 you need to start eating the grapes. Each grape represents one month of the upcoming year, and you are allowed to make a wish with each grape. But you have to finish eating all twelve grapes before 12:01 in order for your wishes to come true. So, have your wish list ready and eat quickly :). 2. Yellow Underwear If you want to win the lottery next year or at least guarantee yourself riches, try wearing yellow underwear as the clock strikes 12. If you want to double your chances, wear the underwear backwards. 3. Shafts of Wheat Make sure to place 12 shafts of wheat on your dining room table. This will ensure a year with plenty to e...

Here is a fresh look at a post I made 2 years ago on New Year's Music. Much like Christmas Eve. New Year's Eve parties will last ALL NIGHT LONG. There is also not a party that will not include music of all sorts. But no matter where the party, the music will include the following song at 5 minutes to midnight. Cinco Pa' Las 12 by Nestor Zavarce . You can here it here. The other song that will be played is El Año Viejo by Tony Camargo You need to see this video as it shows the burning of the Año Viejo . I highly recommend that you purchase these 2 songs from Itunes or similar service. NO COLOMBIAN NEW YEAR CELEBRATION IS COMPLETE WITHOUT THEM.

Check out the following recipes when planning your New Year Celebration. Lentejas -- Lentils -- A New Year Tradition: http://raisingcolombiankids.blogspot.com/2009/12/lentejas-lentils-new-year-tradition.html Tamales Boyacense http://raisingcolombiankids.blogspot.com/2008/12/abuelita-carmens-tamales-boyacenses.html

Okay, so I LOVE this next tradition. After Christmas, most Colombian families make an Año Viejo . The Año Viejo is a life size doll made of old clothes and stuffed with straw and newspaper. Just before midnight, people set fire to the Año Viejo . It is burning the old and bad of the past year in preparation for the new. In our family, we make an Año Viejo and since it would be illegal to burn it here, we just ceremoniously throw it away. Learn more here: http://raisingcolombiankids.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html

Just a reminder that tomorrow, December 28, is a fun holiday in Colombia -- Dia de los Santos Inocentes. It is based on a Catholic holiday that commemorates the children, younger than 2 years of age, that were ordered killed by King Herod after the Three Wise Men did not return to tell Herod where the child king could be found. This holiday is celebrated much in the way we here in the US celebrate April Fool's Day. It is a day for playing tricks on people, fake news reports, and jokes. On this day the Colombian newspaper, El Tiempo, publishes a sepcial insert called El Trompo which is filled with funny and fictious stories about current events. When you play a joke or prank on someone, instead of yelling out "April Fools," you say, " Santos Inocentes!" If you'd like to prepare your family a special Santos Inocentes dinner in honor of this holiday, Check out the recipes that Family Fun magazine has for April Fool's Day. There is a section called Fun Fo...

When people in Colombia think about Christmas, they think about today, December 24 th . December 25 th is just a nice day off, a day most people will spend sleeping. Let me explain. Known as Noche Buena , Navidad , or simply El 24 , December 24 th is the time when the essential traditions of Colombian Christmas celebrations take place. But before diving into what will happen tonight, a little background is in order. For most kids, the school year ends around the middle of November. This is true for University students as well. With tests and grades behind and even remedial tests and courses postponed until January, the arrival of December is akin to the arrival of a long awaited weekend after a hard work week. Maybe is more like the arrival of summer in places away from the Equator. Usually December also brings the end of the November rains and ushers in the beginning of bright, sunny days. Thus, everything is set for a month long celebration, and the build up to the 24 th be...

If this is your first Christmas in Colombia, here are some things you can expect and some instructions on how to weather the Holiday season there. 1. For 98 % of the people it IS Christmas. Not much mention of Kwanzaa or Hanukkah or any other non-Christian tradition. Furthermore, while there are many Christian and evangelical denominations in the country, most Colombians call themselves Catholics. In fact, it is around this time, whether on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve, that a lot of them actually make it to Mass. 2. Thus, you can expect decorations with religious motifs and people gathering to do the Rosary around Nativity Scenes. However, more recently, Santa, Reindeer, and snow-covered pine tree decorations have become more common. Hey, if Americans and Europeans do it, it's got to be cool, never mind the sunny -- and in some places sweltering -- weather outside. 3. Yes, there are Christmas trees too. They are everywhere. We hang Christmas ornaments from them too. However...