Understanding Colombia Holidays 2025
Holiday Culture in Colombia
Colombia celebrates numerous Catholic holidays and unique 'puente' (bridge) long weekends through the 'Ley Emiliani' law that moves many Monday observances. Famous for vibrant festivals and friendly culture, Colombian holidays blend Spanish Catholic tradition with regional diversity from Caribbean coast to Andean highlands to Amazon jungle.
Major Holidays & Celebrations
Independence Day(July 20)
Significance: Commemorates the 1810 Grito de Independencia (Cry of Independence) in Bogotá, starting Colombia's independence struggle from Spain. Pride in being the first South American country to achieve independence.
Traditions: Military parades, flag ceremonies, children wearing traditional costumes (regional dress), eating national dishes, dancing cumbia and vallenato, and celebrating Colombian identity across regions.
Traditional Foods: Ajiaco (potato soup - Bogotá specialty), bandeja paisa (massive platter with beans, rice, meat, egg, avocado), arepas, empanadas, and regional specialties. Coffee flows freely.
Business Impact: National holiday with everything closed. Often extended into long weekend through 'puente' system.
Christmas (Navidad) & Day of the Little Candles(December 7-8 & 25)
Significance: Day of the Little Candles (Día de las Velitas) on December 7-8 kicks off Christmas season uniquely Colombian. Honors Virgin Mary's Immaculate Conception. Christmas itself is deeply Catholic but also joyful Colombian style.
Traditions: Lighting candles and paper lanterns everywhere on Dec 7 evening (streets, windows, doors), novenas (9 nights of prayer/celebration before Christmas), nativity scenes (pesebres), aguinaldos (Christmas games), and family gatherings.
Traditional Foods: Natilla (Colombian custard), buñuelos (cheese fritters), tamales, lechona (stuffed roasted pig), hojaldras (fried dough), and hot chocolate. November-December is eating season.
Business Impact: December 7-8 not official holidays but candle night impacts evenings. December 25 is official. Whole December sees reduced productivity as Colombians party through month.
Carnival de Barranquilla(February/March (4 days before Ash Wednesday))
Significance: One of the world's largest carnivals (after Rio), UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Caribbean coast celebration blending African, indigenous, and Spanish cultures. Second biggest after Rio but uniquely Colombian.
Traditions: La Batalla de Flores (flower parade), costume parades, cumbia dancing, marimba music, drinking rum, street parties (verbenas), and the symbolic burial of Joselito Carnaval.
Traditional Foods: Arepa de huevo (egg arepas), sancocho (hearty soup), fried fish, Caribbean coastal cuisine, rum cocktails, and street food galore.
Business Impact: Not national holiday but Barranquilla and Caribbean coast essentially shut down for 4 days. If doing business in that region, avoid entirely.
Holiday Pattern & Statistics
Colombia observes 18 official holidays annually - more than most countries! The 'Ley Emiliani' (Emiliani Law) moves many Catholic holidays to following Mondays, creating consistent long weekends. This puente system means Colombians travel frequently for extended weekends.
Business Travel & Coordination
December is essentially lost - the whole month is holiday season with reduced productivity. Semana Santa (Holy Week before Easter) sees mass travel. The abundant puentes (long weekends) throughout year mean checking calendars carefully. Best business periods: January-February, August-October. Colombian business culture is warm and relationship-focused - expect social time before business. Punctuality is more flexible than Northern Europe/US.
Cultural Traditions & Insights
Colombian culture emphasizes warmth, friendliness (amabilidad), and living well despite past challenges. Coffee culture is central - Colombia produces some of world's best. Regional diversity is huge - costeños (coast people) are laid-back and party-focused, bogotanos (Bogotá) more formal and serious, paisas (Medellín region) entrepreneurial. Salsa, cumbia, and vallenato music dominate. Soccer is religion. The transformation from violence to safety makes Colombians proud and welcoming to visitors.
Timezone Coordination Tips
Colombia uses COT (UTC-5) year-round without DST. This aligns with US Eastern Time during winter, simplifying North American coordination. Colombian business hours typically run 8 AM-5 PM but vary by sector and region. Lunch can be long (1-2 hours) especially outside major cities. Caribbean coast operates on 'island time' - slower pace. When scheduling, specify city as attitudes toward punctuality vary regionally.
Why Check Colombia Public Holidays?
- Plan business meetings and avoid scheduling conflicts during bank closures
- Coordinate with remote teams and international colleagues across time zones
- Book travel and accommodations around peak holiday periods for better rates
- Respect cultural and religious observances important to local communities
- Optimize project timelines and deadlines accounting for reduced business days
- Anticipate supply chain and logistics disruptions during major holidays
Frequently Asked Questions
Stay Perfectly Synchronized
Our holiday calendar for Colombia is regularly updated to ensure accuracy. Use this information alongside our Colombia timezone tools and meeting planner to coordinate seamlessly with Colombia and stay perfectly synchronized with local schedules.