“How Come Dis Town Stay Celebratin’ Christmas in February Fo’ Almost 200 Years Already, Brah?” π π½ππΊ
Da kine small town QuinamayΓ³, located in southwestern Colombia, get one big secret: every year, da residents celebrate Christmas 40 days aftah da traditional date. Da reason behind dis unique tradition stay rooted in da community’s Afro-Colombian history and da oppression dey faced during slavery. ππ
QuinamayΓ³, home to about 6,000 people, transforms into one festive scene ev’ry February, complete wit Christmas trees, twinkling lights, and red and green streamers. You goin’ find tents selling sausages and popcorn lining da main street, while horse-drawn carts pass by. π π΄
Dis tradition dates back to da early 1800s when da Afro-Colombian population was enslaved and forced to work through December fo’ da slaveholders’ holiday festivities. To make up fo’ dis, da community decided to celebrate Christmas 40 days aftah da traditional birth date of Jesus, coinciding with da end of da harvest season. πΎβͺ
Da annual February celebration brings da community together fo’ one colorful procession, filled wit traditional outfits, music, and dance. Da procession represents da diverse background of QuinamayΓ³’s residents, including Indigenous and Afro-descendant groups. πΆπ
As da Spanish colonized Colombia in da 16th century, dey suppressed da traditional religions practiced by Indigenous and Afro-descendant populations. However, many communities, like QuinamayΓ³, combined Western Christian culture with their own ancestral traditions and developed new customs. πποΈ
Over da past 20 years, dis Christmas-in-February tradition has become more popular. Thousands of people arrive to enjoy da festivities, and an entire amusement park is brought in to add to da fun. With no hotels in da area, guests stay wit friends or keep da party going all night long. π‘π
Da festival emphasizes da importance of music, wit drums echoing throughout da town. Norman ViΓ‘fara, one of da festival’s organizers, says, “We tell da world, society in general, dat we are ready and willing to also be able to reach da decision-making spaces.” π₯πΌ
Covid-19 forced da cancellation of da festival fo’ two years, and many of da town’s elder members who were in charge of da festivities passed away from da virus. However, da community came back strong, and dis year’s celebration was filled wit energy and joy. πͺπ
Da weekend’s events included traditional dances, such as da juga, which represents shackles and chains, and a pageant where teenage girls compete to safeguard QuinamayΓ³’s cultural identity. ππ
Da spirit of da February Christmas celebration in QuinamayΓ³ is all about preserving and celebrating da community’s unique identity, history, and culture. Even when faced wit challenges like bad weather, da people of QuinamayΓ³ remain committed to keeping their tradition alive. π¦οΈπ
QuinamayΓ³’s Christmas in February is one shining example of how communities can overcome adversity and transform a history of oppression into a joyous celebration that brings people together. ππ
NOW IN ENGLISH
Why has this town been celebrating Christmas in February for nearly 200 years?
Every February, the small town of QuinamayΓ³ in southwestern Colombia comes to life with Christmas celebrations that can only be described as unique. πβ¨ This town, with a population of about 6,000, has upheld a tradition that dates back to the era of slavery, transforming a history of oppression and suffering into a joyful and spirited celebration.
In the early 1800s, QuinamayΓ³’s Afro-Colombian population was enslaved, forced to work through December while attending to their slaveholders’ holiday festivities. So Christmas was celebrated 40 days after the traditional birth date of Jesus. This timeframe is said to be the amount of time the Virgin Mary rested after delivery and coincides with the end of the harvest season. πΎπ
The festival’s main procession starts with women in traditional floral dresses walking through the moonlit streets. ππ They are soon joined by girls in grass skirts, representing Indigenous groups that the town’s Black residents view as part of their shared history of slavery. The procession features various characters, such as Joseph, Mary, the star of Bethlehem, angels, and guardian soldiers, all leading up to the baby Jesus, who is represented as Black, like the majority of the community. ππΌπΆπΏ
This unique celebration is ingrained in the hearts of QuinamayΓ³’s residents, as it connects them to their ancestors who had their culture, history, and traditions taken away during the colonization of Colombia. π¨π΄π The town has embraced and adapted the Christmas-in-February tradition, which has grown in popularity over the past 20 years, attracting thousands of visitors each year. ππ
Music πΆ and dance π are integral parts of the festival, with drum rhythms echoing far and wide. These performances symbolize the resilience of the people, their desire to have a voice, and the power of their cultural identity.
The past two years have been challenging for QuinamayΓ³, with the festival canceled due to the pandemic and many of the town’s elder members passing away from Covid-19. π·π Despite these losses, the community has come together to continue their cherished tradition.
The festival’s events include a mock fight between men dressed as ox and mule characters, representing the Nativity scene, and traditional juga dancing. πππ΄ This dance, sometimes called fuga or “flee,” represents the shackles and chains of slavery, embodying the idea that while the body may be chained, the soul remains free. ποΈπ
The essence of the festival lies in preserving the town’s unique identity, which is showcased through various activities such as a pageant featuring handmade dresses that symbolize QuinamayΓ³’s culture. ππ The winner of the pageant is tasked with safeguarding the town’s traditions for a year, ensuring the celebration of Christmas in February continues to thrive. ππͺ
Even when faced with challenges like rainstorms and power outages, the spirit of QuinamayΓ³’s Christmas in February cannot be dampened. π§οΈπ¨π The residents, united in their love for this unique tradition, keep dancing and celebrating, proving that nothing can stop their vibrant and joyous Christmas in February. ππβ€οΈ
