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It’s that time of year again — you’ve surely noticed the deluge of Christmas decorations, music, and frenzied shopping all around you. Black Friday shopping, tree chopping, and pictures with Santa Claus are so ingrained in most of us that they’re almost second nature.

But not all of these same traditions exist in our home countries, each has its own unique and sometimes quite surprising customs — some of which we brought with us stateside.

Here are Christmas traditions from all across Latin America that can help you feel a little bit closer to home.wp_*posts

Colombia

In Colombia, the Christmas celebrations get started earlier than in most places with El Día de las Velitas (the Day of the Little Candles) on December 7.

The tradition dates back to 1854 when Pope Pius IX declared the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary to be the official dogma of the Catholic Church. While the religious significance is strong, there is no shortage of celebration around this time to kick off the Christmas season with so many lights dotting Colombia’s calles.wp_*posts

Ecuador

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