Christmas songs in Colombia play an important role, and among the most listened-to songs at this time of year is “Cariñito.” Credit: Caroll Viana / Colombia OneChristmas in Colombia cannot be understood without music. Every December, as candles are lit, novenas are held, and families gather around t
Without a doubt, this year’s Christmas lights and decorations on the Bridge of Boyaca are the most stunning and elaborate ever seen. Credit: Irma Beltran.As the sun sets over the Andean highlands, a historic landmark transforms into a luminous wonderland. The Puente de Boyaca, famously known as the
Colombia has a wide variety of places and festivities recognized as heritage by UNESCO; one of them is the Carnival of Barranquilla. Credit: Mark Koester, CC-BY-2.0-Colombia is one of the most diverse countries on the planet, not only because of its geography and biodiversity, but also due to the ri
The federal case against a former Harvard morgue manager has exposed alarming gaps in oversight at one of the world’s most prestigious medical institutions. Credit: Harvard University Yard / Wikimedia CommonsThe sentencing of a Harvard University morgue manager to eight years in federal prison has s
January could mark a turning point for Machu Picchu as international evaluators review whether Peru has done enough to protect its most iconic heritage site.Credit: Josep Freixes / Colombia OneMachu Picchu is not only Peru’s most iconic tourist destination; it is a powerful symbol of the country’s h
Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. Credit: Dayou_X / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0A record-breaking snow park is set to open its gates in Harbin, the capital of China’s Heilongjiang Province, drawing attention from winter tourism lovers around the world. The park, named the 27t
Colombia celebrates the Novenas of Aguinaldos, a tradition that brings families together during Christmas. Credit: Politecnico Grancolombia, CC BY-NC 2.0 / FlickrEvery December, Colombia revives one of its most cherished and representative Christmas traditions: the novenas de aguinaldos. From Dec. 1
Italian cuisine was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, becoming the first country to receive this distinction in its entirety. Credit: Fs999, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 / FlickrItalian cuisine has officially been declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, a historic
The Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires (Malba) said it has acquired the Daros Latinamerica collection from Zürich. Credit: Tamara Kenia – CC BY 2.0 via Flickr. The Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires (Malba) said it has acquired the Daros Latinamerica collection from Zürich, addin
The Jewish legacy in the region of Antioquia, Colombia, can be seen in many aspects of the area’s contemporary culture and customs. Credit: Unknown, Public Domain /Pxhere / Ariely, Public Domain / Wikimedia.The Jewish legacy in Colombia’s Antioquia region remains very much alive in the area’s contem
Ibague capital of the department of Tolima. Credit: Government of Tolima/CC BY-SA 4.0Tolima, a Colombian department located in the heart of the Andes, is a region that embodies the country’s diversity in both landscape and culture. From its rugged mountains and fertile valleys to its vibrant traditi
‘Expoartesanias 2025’, the 35th edition of Latin America’s most important craft fair, is being held in Bogota, Colombia. Credit: Josep Maria Freixes / Colombia One.Bogotá, Colombia’s capital, has been transformed since last December 5 into a crucible of colors, textures, and knowledge with the openi
Dead Sea Scroll 28a from Qumran Cave 1, the Jordan Museum in Amman. Credit: Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP (Glasg) / CC BY-SA 4.0After years of mystery, a scholar now claims to have made a breakthrough in understanding a long-unreadable script hidden in the Dead Sea Scrolls.Emmanuel Oliveiro, a res
Windmill Way, Square A4 after excavation. Credit: Heather Burke / CC BY-NC-ND 4.0In northern Queensland, Australia, archaeologists have uncovered rare evidence of Aboriginal string craft that dates back nearly 1,700 years. The discovery, made deep within the remote rock shelters of Quinkan Country,
Dec. 12 marks the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a Mexican symbol that has become an icon of Latin American identity. Credit: Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia.The Dec. 12 celebration, the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, once again mobilizes millions of faithful in Mexico and
Colombia is ready for the 68th edition of one of the country’s most important cultural events: the 2025 Cali Fair. Credit: Ben Bowes, CC BY 2.0 / FlickrColombia is preparing to celebrate, from Dec. 25 to 30, 2025, a new edition of its most emblematic cultural event: The Cali Fair, which this year re
The city of Rovaniemi in Finland is considered the hometown of Santa Claus, and in this place, the magic of Christmas is experienced all year round. Credit: frozenreindeer, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 / FlickrIn the far north of Finland, right at the gateway to the Arctic, lies Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland
Seasonal short-leaved plants with two leaves, a tall stalk, and a flower. Credit: Yosef Garfinkel / CC BY 4.0Ancient pottery decorated with flower patterns from northern Mesopotamia may hold more than artistic value. A recent archaeological study has found that humanity’s oldest floral art, dating b
Chef Israel Lopez prepares ceviche during a Spanish class cooking session in Cartagena, Colombia, showing how gastronomy and education come together around local ingredients and shared stories. Photo: Joe Ross, 2016 / CC BY SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.Anyone who studies gastronomy in Colombia today
Colombia was recognized as the second friendliest country in the world according to the Expat Insider Survey 2025, with Indonesia taking first place. Credit: Mark Koester, CC-BY-2.0-Colombia has once again stood out on the global stage thanks to a new recognition that highlights the warmth of its pe
Chef Juliana Moreno prepares and plates a chicken dish with mushroom sauce, potatoes and thin-cut vegetables during a Chef of the Quarter competition, echoing the mix of technique, creativity and cultural memory that events such as SURō 2025 highlight in Colombia’s gastronomy. Photo: Cpl. S.T. Stewa
In Floridablanca, Santander, every year they create the largest sweet nativity scene in Colombia, made with traditional regional sweets. Credit: Roberto Urrea, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 / FlickrFloridablanca, in the department of Santander, once again becomes the epicenter of Colombia’s Christmas season with
Colombia celebrates the Day of the Little Candles every Dec. 7, a tradition that marks the official beginning of Christmas in the country. Credit: Reg Natarajan, CC BY 2.0 / FlickrEvery Dec. 7, Colombia transforms into a country filled with lights, colors, and devotion. The Day of the Little Candles
Rafael Ithier, founder of the orchestra El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, died at the age of 99 after decades of musical dedication. Credit: @elgrancombodepuertorico / IG Courtesy.Rafael Ithier, founder and longtime director of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, a flagship orchestra of salsa and Caribbean so
