The Reality Of What Its Really Like Spending Christmas In Bogota

Oh the joys of holiday season. Christmas music, bright city decorations, and pumpkin spice lattes.

You’ll get just about all of that and much more during the holidays here in Bogota.

However, after spending my fair share of Christmases and holidays in the Colombian capital, there are some things, that are unique to spending Christmas in Bogota.

I’m tired of having expat bloggers say how wonderful Colombia is. How lovely blah and blah is. How about the truth? Not everything is great. Sure there’s more positive than bad, but, how about not painting the town pink?

And the same goes with spending the holidays in Bogota. The reality is not what other expat bloggers paint it to be. And so I wanted to share with you a few truths about what Christmas in Bogota is really like.

It’s usually one of the sunniest month of the year

All year the weather is rainy and cold. But for the most part, the month of December is particularly sunnier. Just when you feel you should be getting into the holiday spirit, the warmer December days in Bogota make you feel as if you’re entering summertime.

Of course, there are exceptions with the weather. But I’ve generally noticed that December is one of the sunniest months of the year.

 

Theres more street beggars and sellers

They usually start popping up around the last week of November. All of a sudden, beggars and sellers multiply. They usually have their fixed corner or area and so you tend to get to know them. But all of a sudden there’s a lot more on the same street corner.

I don’t know where they come from, but a lot of them are particularly intense. They’ll come up to you in the street asking you random questions.

A recent one was a family asking me where the nearest hospital was. I didn’t want to answer as I knew it would follow suite with something along the lines of their child being sick and then go on to ask for money.

 

There’s more theft during the holidays in Bogota

December is the month of the year where you have to be particularly careful. Theft in the city increases exponentially. Think twice about everything you do and take extra precaution. Things like leaving your bag at your feet or in the chair next to you, leaving your cell phone on the table, and the likes should really be avoided.

Instead, hang your bag using the hook underneath your table and keep valuables away.

If you are obviously foreign (as I am the minute I speak) even waitresses will remind you that this is the month of December and the very people that are sitting at the table next to you could be the very ones robbing you.

With this in mind, I am always extra careful during the month of December.

 

Restaurants are full to the brim for lunch

You know that lovely spot that you always go to? You might want to take a break from it for the rest of December or save it for dinner time. Colleagues and company lunches will take over the city’s restaurants and there’s huge lines wherever you go.

Or consider cooking at home for the month of December.

 

You’re going to spend a lot of time with friends and family… But mostly family

Día de las velitas, novenas, Christmas, New Years. Colombians love their family and they don’t miss any chance they have to spend time with them.

If you’re like me, patience is a virtue. Practice it this holiday season.

 

The city is horribly lit

Christmas is so tacky here. It’s the same decorations year after year. Lack of funds?Or were they just stolen?

But to many Colombians, this is all they know, and they appreciate it. So much so that families will travel from very far to admire the tacky Christmas lights.

The traffic gets even worse

As a result, and in addition to everyone rushing to get their Christmas gifts, this will cause insane amount of traffic in the week leading up to Christmas.

 

There is nothing gourmet about Christmas in Colombia

Yes, you will eat comfort food, that’s for sure. And some things will be good. Others I’ve grown to like over the years. Some things I still don’t understand why people eat them.

After having spent 5 Christmas’s here in Bogota, I’ve learned to exchange Godiva chocolate, Champaign, oysters, foie gras and fish eggs for hot chocolate with cheese and bunuelos. The holiday food I’m used to is absolutely unaffordable here, so Colombian comfort food it is.

 

Poor families stand in the street on the 25th in the morning

On the 25th in the morning, poor families will hang out in the streets along with their children to receive gifts from passerby‘s.

For foreigners, it’s a reminder that you are in a developing country. A bit of a brutal slap in the face after spending the evening shoving your face and opening Christmas gifts.

 

New Year’s is with the grandparents

UnIike Europe or the US, New Year’s Eve in Colombia is spent with the family. You typically spend New Year with your family until midnight. Afterwards you are free to go out and party wherever you please.

As a family time isn’t really what gets me pumped up for fiesta, someone usually has to wake me up at 11:45pm so I’m cheering with everyone at 12am, and back to bed at 12:15am.

 

Bogota turns into a ghost town

After the 25th, the chaotic Colombian capital turns into a complete ghost town. Everyone in the city goes on vacation, stores close, and there is absolutely nothing to do. This is perfect if you need to whine down and spend some time by yourself.

People usually start coming back around January 5th.

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Spending the holidays in Bogota is quite a different experience from spending the holidays in the US or in Europe.

You can still have your fancy food if you decide to pay an arm and a leg in Carulla, your imported nice Christmas lights set up at home, and your pumpkin lattes in Starbucks. Just kidding!

Nonetheless, Christmas festivities and family events in Colombia are very joyful. After all, that’s what it’s all about really all about isn’t it?