Posts about Culture
Colombian Wedding Traditions
Colombian Wedding Cake
Every country has its wedding traditions. Colombia is not without plenty of its traditions for matrimonial ceremonies.
While each wedding tradition is unique to the family and couple that practices it, there are general similarities that run throughout Colombian wedding traditions.
The most well known Colombian wedding tradition is the Serenata, or serenade.
The Serenata is a pre-wedding tradition in Colombia in which the groom surprises the bride with a serenade (this often happens after she has gone to sleep).
Often the Serenata involves a band and a surprise party with the friends and family of the bride and groom.
The band sings some songs, but the groom must also serenade his bride with songs of his own.
The Serenata can last all through the night, and often involves drinking copious amounts of aguardiente, the traditional Colombian liquor.
Aguardiente
Colombia
Aguardiente is the general name for booze of high alcohol content, meaning “fiery water”, or, literally “burning water”.
This drink is really popular in Colombia. Aguardiente Cristal is one of the most famous brands there. It’s anise flavor will definitely give you quite a burn. Enjoy shots with your friends!
Diablada Devil’s Carnival in Colombia
Every other year the Diablada Devil’s Carnival in Colombia takes place in the town of Riosucio in the northwest of the country.
The Diablada Devil’s Carnival in Colombia is a celebration of the mixed African and Caribbean heritage of Colombia.
The carnival dates back to the first Diablada in the mid 1800′s.
The festival is held typically the second week of January in odd-numbered years (20011, 2013, etc).
The celebration is unique in mixing African symbology with native Colombian iconography.
Riosucio, in the Caldas state, is fairly difficult to reach.
You can fly into the Caldas airport on Avianca or drive to Riosucio.
The flight from Bogota to Riosucio is about 25 minutes.
If you drive from Bogota to Riosucio it is around 265 km.