Valentine’s Day in Colombia

When did the Valentine’s Day in Colombia start?

The first recorded date of Valentine’s Day in Colombia being celebrated on September 20 was in the year 1974.

About Valentine’s Day in Colombia Holiday

Valentine's Day in Colombia is a special time to show your loved ones how much you care. The day is filled with romantic gesture and is celebrated with enthusiasm across the country. People in Colombia often exchange gifts and cards on Valentine's Day, and there are traditional Colombian customs that are observed.

Valentine's Day in Colombia is celebrated in a number of ways. Gifts such as flowers and chocolates are typical for sweethearts, while people often gather with friends and family to share a meal and exchange cards or other gifts as expressions of their love and friendship. Music is also an important part of the celebration, with Colombian pop music often playing as couples dance in the street.

In many Colombian cities, there are also festivals which celebrate Valentine's Day, which include cultural activities such as traditional music and dancing. These events provide an opportunity for people to come together and enjoy the festivities of the holiday. On Valentine's Day, Colombia is alive with love, romance, and happiness and it is a wonderful time of the year to share with friends and family.

Valentine’s Day in Colombia

Valentine’s Day is a special day of love and celebration, observed around the world each year on February 14th. From roses to jewelry, gifts to romantic meals – it’s an occasion that celebrates love. Here, we explore the delightful holiday of Valentine’s Day in Colombia, and what makes it so unique.

History and Origin

The exact origin of Valentine’s Day is uncertain, though the most popular story points to a saint named Valentine of Rome in Italy, who was thought to have been active in the third century. Around AD 496, Pope Gelasius I declared the day of February 14th as St. Valentine’s day to commemorate him.

Valentine’s Day was then thought to have become a popular holiday in Europe, spreading from France and England to Colombia by the nineteenth century. It became more popular among younger people as the twentieth century unfolded, with an emerging tradition of exchanging cards and gifts.

Over the years, it has become a day to celebrate love and appreciate the joy of companionship. Now, in Colombia, it is the special occasion where people take time to express their feelings and share tokens of love with their partners, friends, and family.

Significance and Meaning

Valentine’s Day in Colombia is a day of joy and excitement. For many people, the holiday has become a tradition, a time for couples and families to come together and express emotions. It is a time of celebration, where people show affection and gratitude for one another.

The holiday reminds us of how important love is in our everyday lives and encourages us to connect with others and show appreciation. The significance of Valentine’s Day in Colombia is a deep-rooted one, with enduring symbolism in our culture. The giving of gifts, flowers, and affectionate messages remind us of what love means and reminds us to cherish it.

Traditions and Celebrations

In Colombia, Valentine’s Day traditions and celebrations revolve largely around gift-giving and expressions of love. Couples often exchange cards, chocolates, and flowers as symbols of their affection. It is not uncommon to see restaurants and stores filled with a wide variety of gifts – from jewelry and lingerie to stuffed animals and potted plants.

Gift-giving in Colombia typically takes place among couples and immediate family, but many people also extend their gifts and affection to close friends. Women receive gifts such as ‘besos de amor’ (love kisses), which are usually small paper hearts written with special, meaningful messages. Men can receive ‘ramos de amor’ (love bouquets), which are typically bunches of cut flowers gifted on Valentine’s Day.

Geographical Spread

Valentine’s Day is celebrated widely and is one of the biggest annual holidays in Colombia. Throughout the country, people observe the day with enthusiasm, exchanging gifts and enjoying romantic days out.

In cities like Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, and Cartagena, the holiday is especially popular with restaurants often selling out weeks in advance. Many Colombians spend the evening with their partners or families, enjoying a meal out or a night at the theater.

In more rural regions, where traditional customs are a part of everyday life, Valentine’s Day is observed with a traditional twist. Many smaller villages celebrate with their own unique customs, which can differ widely from the larger cities. For example, in Betania, the day is known for a special sweet called ‘el panecillo’, which is made from fruit, cheese, and other ingredients and is exchanged among partners.

Modern Day Observations

In modern-day Colombia, Valentine’s Day has taken on a whole new significance as more couples move away from the traditional customs. Gifts such as chocolates and cards are still exchanged, but couples have also started to adopt the global trend of going away for the day or weekend. A romantic getaway allows couples to enjoy quality time and fun activities, such as hikes, beach visits, and concerts.

Additionally, many couples opt for experiences over tangible gifts, choosing to share unique activities like sailing excursions, dinner cruises, cooking classes, spa treatments, and more. The modern-day focus on experiences, rather than material gifts, allows couples to create lasting memories and emotional connections, which are just as meaningful as traditional gifts.

Interesting Facts or Trivia

• In Colombia, February 14th is an unofficial national holiday.

• ‘El Día de los Enamorados’, or ‘Lover’s Day’ is a more commonly used term for Valentine’s Day in Colombia.

• Some smaller towns have their own unique Valentine’s Day celebrations, which involve activities like ‘la cosecha del amor’, or ‘harvest of love’.

• Colombia’s oldest Valentine’s Day postcard dates back to 1914 and was sent from Jacamatagalpa in the Baudó region.

• A popular Colombian dish for Valentine’s Day is ‘tamal de dulce’, a type of sweet corn tamale filled with raisins, carrots, and pineapple.

• ‘La Batalla del Amor’, or ‘Love Battle’, is a popular romantic event in Colombia which has couples dueling each other with roses in hand.

• Cartagena is a popular destination for Colombian couples on Valentine’s Day, due to its romantic atmosphere and beautiful historic architecture.

Holiday Wishes

1. I wish you peace and love on this day of joy and celebration.

2. Sending you wishes of love and happiness on this Valentine’s Day.

3. Wishing all the best to you and your family on Valentine’s Day.

4. May your day be filled with sweet surprises and unforgettable moments.

5. Sending lots of love to you and yours this Valentine’s Day.

Holiday Messages

1. Your love and friendship brighten my life every day – thank you for being in my life!

2. Words can’t express how much I appreciate your generosity and care – thank you!

3. You remind me how blessed I am to have you in my life – I am forever grateful.

4. Wishing you a day of spectacular joy and unforgettable moments this Valentine’s Day.

5. May this Valentine’s Day bring you much love, joy, and happiness.

Holiday Quotes

1. “Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.” ~ Khalil Gibran

2. “Love is when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own.” ~ H. Jackson Brown Jr.

3. “Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” ~ Aristotle

4. “To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.” ~ David Viscott

5. “Love is a friendship set to music.” ~ Joseph Campbell

Other Popular Holiday Info

Although the traditional customs of Valentine’s Day remain prominent, modern-day Colombia has created a unique twist on the holiday. Many Colombian couples, especially younger ones, prefer to spend the day with friends or family, rather than with their partners. To honor this, many restaurants and cafes now offer ‘amigos’ (friends) and ‘durazno’ (peach) special menus on Valentine’s Day, as a way to encourage friends and couples to spend quality time together.

In schools, children often present their teachers with gifts of homemade cards, food, and flowers. Other activities seen on Valentine’s Day in Colombia include concerts, exhibitions, and public events, often centered around the theme of love.

Although Valentine’s Day is observed differently in Colombia than in other countries, the underlying sentiment of love and appreciation remains the same. The day is an opportunity to express our deepest feelings for the special people in our lives. Let us take time to appreciate the people we love and don’t forget to wish yourself a Happy Valentine’s Day too.