Colombia is located in South America. It is surrounded by the countries Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, and Brazil. Colombia is greatly influenced by different cultures – Amerindian, European, and the Middle East.
Colombia has more public holidays than any other country. Currently, Colombia has 20 public holidays – 12 of which are Catholic holidays. Colombia holidays are known as festivos. When travelling to Colombia, it is especially helpful to remember the important dates of Colombia’s public holidays.
Public holidays in Colombia consist of national and religious holidays. During public holidays, most businesses are closed and employees enjoy paid leave.
| Dates | Holidays |
|---|---|
| Jan 1 | New Year’s Day |
| Jan 12 | Epiphany Holiday |
| Mar 23 | St. Joseph’s Day |
| Apr 2 | Maundy Thursday |
| Apr 3 | Good Friday |
| May 1 | Labor Day |
| May 10 | Mother’s Day |
| May 18 | Ascension Day |
| Jun 8 | Corpus Christi |
| Jun 15 | Sacred Heart |
| Jun 21 | Father’s Day |
| Jun 29 | St. Peter & St. Paul’s Day |
| Jul 20 | Declaration of Independence |
| Aug 7 | Battle of Boyaca |
| Aug 17 | Assumption Day |
| Oct 12 | Day of the Races |
| Nov 2 | All Saints’ Day |
| Nov 16 | Independence of Cartagena |
| Dec 8 | Immaculate Conception Day |
| Dec 25 | Christmas Day |
New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day is the first day of the year according to the Gregorian calendar. It falls 1 week after the Christmas holidays. It is a widely observed holiday around the world and is celebrated with festivities in Colombia.
Epiphany Holiday
In Colombia, Epiphany is celebrated on the Monday after the 9th of January. Epiphany commemorates the presentation of Jesus to the three magis or kings.
St. Joseph’s Day
Saint Joseph’s Day is celebrated every 20th of March. It is celebrated to remember the Feast of St. Joseph. In Colombia, St. Joseph’s Day is celebrated on the Monday closest to 20th March.
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday is the last Thursday of Lent, observed on the Thursday before Easter Sunday.
Good Friday
Good Friday remembers the passion and death of Jesus. It is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday.
Labor Day
Labor Day is celebrated across the world on May 1st, to recognize the efforts of the International Labour Movement.
Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is not a public holiday in Colombia and other parts of the world but it is one of the most popular holidays in the world, celebrating mothers and their contributions to society.
Ascension Day
Ascension Day commemorates the ascension of Jesus to heaven. It is a Catholic holiday observed in Colombia, which is a Catholic country.
Father’s Day
Similar to Mother’s Day, Father’s Day is not a public holiday but a special observance. It remembers mothers and their contribution to society.
Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi means the body of Christ (Jesus). The Feast of Corpus Christi is a Catholic festival celebrated on the second Thursday after Whitsun.
Sacred Heart of Jesus
Also called the ‘El Sagrado Corazón de Jesús’, the Sacred Heart holiday in Colombia falls on a Monday. It is observed 10 weeks after Easter Sunday.
St. Peter & St. Paul’s Day
The feast day of St. Peter & St. Paul is commemorated on the same day in Colombia. It remembers the martyrdom of two saints and great apostles of Jesus, Saint Peter and St. Paul.
Declaration of Independence
Independence Day in Colombia commemorates the historic start of the movement to independence from Spain in 1810. It is observed every July 20th.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day is the festive holiday celebrated every December 25th to remember the birth of Jesus. This holiday is usually coupled with lots of festivities and gift-giving.
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This holiday information website has been extremely helpful in planning our vacation. The details about attractions, accommodations, and events have saved us so much time and made our trip preparations hassle-free. Thank you!
By Joshua Hill (Dec, 2022) |