Valentine’s Day in Colombia
While much of the world celebrates Valentine’s Day on February 14th, there are exceptions to that rule. One exception is the country of Colombia, which celebrates its own version of Valentine’s Day on the third Saturday of September. This holiday is known as Dia del Amor y la Amistad, which translates to “Day of Love and Friendship.”
Colombia (Observance)It’s a holiday that celebrates the love between couples, of course, but it also celebrates all forms of love and friendship, no matter what form it exists in. This is a day to show appreciation to loved ones and to be grateful for what they bring into our lives.
The History Of Valentine’s Day In Colombia
No one truly knows the origins of this holiday in Colombia, but it is believed to date back to the 1960s. Influenced by Valentine’s Day, Colombian retailers came up with a way to boost sales during the month of September—a time that had typically been slow for most businesses.
They decided that creating a local version of Valentine’s Day was a good way to encourage people to buy gifts. But they wanted more broad appeal than what this holiday delivers in the rest of the world. That’s why they expanded it to include friendship in addition to romantic love.
This way, they could attract more customers to their stores to buy gifts. Despite its dubious commercial origins, this holiday has become one of the most loved holidays in all of Colombia. It’s celebrated by people of all backgrounds and all ages.
It has taken on significant social and cultural significance and has become a way for many people to strengthen their relationships with the people who are most important in their lives. Nowadays, this holiday is an important part of Colombian culture and has been a day that unites the country in a spirit of love, friendship, and respect.
Observing Valentine’s Day In Colombia
Valentine’s Day in Colombia is celebrated with a number of different traditions, but one of the most popular is called Amigo Secreto. This game is known by every Colombian and translates to “Secret Friend” in English.
It’s played much in the same way that Secret Santa is observed in some countries during the month of December. A group of friends and colleagues agree to a budget, and then place all their names in a bag and shake it. Each player then picks out a name, and the person they choose is their Amigo Secreto.
During Amigo Secreto, each person has to purchase their secret friend a present and make sure that they don’t know who it’s from. It’s a great way to exchange gifts among friends. Traditional gifts often given on this holiday include sweets, flowers, and small trinkets.
This holiday is also a good day for friends, lovers, or loved ones to go out to dinner with one another. And everyone can spread the word about this holiday using the hashtag #DiaDelAmorYAmistad on social media.
Colombia (Observance)
