Christmas traditions in Zulia

Christmas is a time of gathering and encounter, of happiness and flavor. In any corner of
Venezuela, countless religious and traditional events are celebrated. When the Christmas
season arrives, the Christmas bonuses, bagpipes and parties begin to be heard, adding
rhythm and joy to the festivities.

The Christmas spirit also reaches homes with the manger, the Christmas tree, the Advent
wreath and other typical manifestations of these dates. The children enjoy the skates, the birth
of the Christ Child and the arrival of the Three Wise Men.

In Zulia, the birthplace of the bagpipers, the joy of Christmas begins with the descent of La
Chinita, until the first Sunday of December.

The Angel of Amparo is the one that marks the beginning of Christmas for the people of Zulia.
Its light has been illuminating the region for years. It has 1,462 25-watt white bulbs with a
three-dimensional design. It measures about 1.20 meters high and was created by Marcos
Jaimes. , a worker in the Enelven Drawing Department in 1971 but was not turned on until
1973. It can be seen from all cardinal points of Maracaibo.

In its streets and avenues you can breathe Christmas air, the traditional Bella Vista promenade
or also known as “Decembrine Lighting” draws everyone's attention with its 16 blocks of
innovative light designs, which has been carried out since 1996.

Another colorful decoration is carried out on Avenida 5 de Julio, with a Western Discount Bank
tree with colorful lights. Coorpozulia also celebrates with a tree that is said to be the largest of
its kind, with more than 1,100 lights and 42 meters high.

There are also 3 large mangers that are a tradition in Zulia, the San Francisco manger or also
known as the “Saady Manger” which is located on Avenida 40, the figures of the birth exceed
two meters in height, it is to the sky open for the enjoyment of all visitors.

Another iconic nativity scene is that of the Panorama newspaper, with a staging of life-size
pieces, made of pressed wood and hand-painted. They arrived in Maracaibo in 1992 from
Spain and since then their assembly has become a tradition. for its workers and visitors who
can see it on floor one of the press.
Finally, the Canchancha manger, which has been kept alive since 1958 thanks to grandfather
Guillermo Cifuentes Montiel, who in his patio creates a humble manger to represent the birth of
the divine child, with river stones, moss and lights, the stage is set to welcome to all visitors.

Traditions of the Zulia state at Christmas

One of the most important Christmas traditions in the state of Zulia is the commemoration of the birth of
the baby Jesus every December 24, and during the Christmas season the family usually gets together to
carry out different traditions such as making the manger. or birth, and also have the typical dinner with
all the important meals of Christmas gastronomy in Venezuela.

Religious traditions of the Zulia state

Venezuelan Christmas is possibly the richest period in religious and popular festivities.
Celebrations that include a series of pagan and religious events such as: Christmas
Eve, Holy Innocents' Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, as well as Three
Kings' Day, which are part of its identity and idiosyncrasy.

The beginning of the Venezuelan Christmas season is marked by a religious festival

that occurs in the city of Maracaibo, Zulia state, where every November 18 the Virgin
of Chiquinquirá is commemorated and La Feria de la Chinita is held in her honor. It
is for this reason that during these days the bagpipes (a musical genre originating from
the Zulia state of Venezuela) sound with special frenzy and joy. Of the number of
festivals in honor of the Virgin, perhaps the most impressive is the so-called
Amanecer Gaitero , in which the people of Maracaibo gather in the square of the
Basilica, to sing to the Chinita 'Las Mañanitas' and 'Cumpleaños'. Happy'.

It should be noted that on this day of festivities in honor of the Zulian virgin, one of the
main road arteries of Maracaibo, known as Bella Vista Avenue, is illuminated and
covered with colorful decorations to the delight of thousands of people.

Mentioning another Venezuelan latitude, we are located in the capital city, where the
people of Caracas officially begin the Christmas festivities with the lighting of the
Cruz del Ávila . The traditional 30-meter-high symbol is located on Papelón Hill in the
Ávila National Park, and is easily visible when you look up from any part of the city.
 Christmas has arrived in Venezuela!
Customs and traditions
ROXANARABAI
3

Christmas is here! The most important holiday of

Christianity. In any corner of Venezuela, the
commemoration of the birth of the Son of God is
celebrated among many traditions.

Parties and celebrations

Arrival of the Spirit of Christmas: It is celebrated on December 21,
between 10:00 and 12:00 at night.

Strenna Masses: It is a Liturgical celebration that takes place between

December 16 and 24.

Veneration of San Benito de Palermo: Its patron saint festivities begin on

December 25 and end on January 6.

Holy Innocents' Day: It is commemorated on December 28 and is a day to

make jokes.

Paradura del Niño: It is a celebration that takes place throughout the

Andean region of Venezuela from January 1 to February 2.

Arrival of the Three Wise Men: It is celebrated on the night of January 5 to

6 and gifts are usually given.

Christmas music
Strenna and Christmas Carols

 Let's sing Let's sing.

 Horse runs.
 Din Din Din.
 The Angel Gabriel.
 The Sabanero Burrito.
 Splendid Night.
 Fire to the Canyon.
 The Chapel is Open.
 Cute boy.
 Tucusito Tucusito.
 Tun Tun.
 A Happy New Year for You.

Bagpipes

 Without Resentment of Gran Coquivacoa.

 La Gray Zuliana by Ricardo Aguirre.
 Amparito de Maracaibo 15.
 Old Year of Maracaibo 15.
 Pa´que Luis from Gaiteros de Pillopo.
 My Ranchito de Cardenales of success, with Ricardo Cepeda.
 Guaquera Virgin of Guaco.
 Protest Bagpipes.

Dec. 24
 Clothes are released.
 Bonuses, Christmas carols and bagpipes are heard.
 Gift exchange and the arrival of the Baby Jesus with gifts for the children.
 Christmas dinner that includes hallaca, pernil, chicken salad and ham
bread.
 Black cake, panettone, nougat, walnuts and hazelnuts.
 Cream punch is the typical December drink , whether industrial or
homemade.
 The beef sancocho or fish boil on December 25.

December 31
 Like the 24th, new clothes are released.
 Bonuses, Christmas carols and bagpipes are heard, such as the classic
Viejo Año by Maracaibo 15 or Faltan Cinco Pa' Las Doce by Néstor
Zavarce.
 New Year's Eve dinner that includes hallaca , pernil, chicken salad, ham
and lentil bread for prosperity.
 Black cake, panettone, nougat, walnuts, hazelnuts and grapes.
 They drink cream punch and to celebrate the arrival of the new year,
sparkling wine .
 The sancocho or boiled of January 1.

New Year's Eve Rituals in Venezuela

 To welcome the new year, you should do a deep cleaning of the house,
throwing away everything that is no longer useful.
 To attract good luck and money, a yellow or gold undergarment is used,
for love, red, and to strengthen health, green.
 To always have money, tradition says that you should receive the year
with money in your right hand or right pocket.
 To travel , you take a large suitcase after saying Happy New Year and
walk around the block from your house.
 It is customary to eat 12 grapes during the first seconds of the year, one
for each bell in which a wish is made for each of the following months.
 In the states of Lara, Táchira, Mérida and Zulia, the Burning of the Old
Year is carried out, which consists of the burning of a doll that represents
the year that is ending, and begins good and prosperity.