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Thali

Next: 7 Dec 2026

Day of the Little Candles

Colombia lights candles for the Virgin Mary and opens Christmas with buñuelos and natilla.

Encendiendo velas un 7 de diciembre
Photo: CarUno, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What is eaten for Day of the Little Candles

On the evening of 7 December Colombians line their windowsills, balconies and pavements with candles and paper lanterns in honour of the Immaculate Conception. It is the unofficial start of Christmas. Neighbours sit outside together, and the first buñuelos and natilla of the season are made. Colombian buñuelos are round fritters of cheese dough, crisp outside and soft inside. Natilla is a firm set custard of milk, raw cane sugar and cinnamon. Hot chocolate or a shot of aguardiente goes with them.

The dishes

BuñueloRound cheese fritters, the taste of Colombian December.NatillasSet milk custard with cinnamon, served with the fritters.Hot chocolateDrunk outdoors by candlelight.AguardienteAnise spirit shared among the adults.
About this page

Written by the Thali desk with AI assistance. Background: "Day of the Little Candles" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from family to family and place to place. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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