With cumbias, dance, bagpipes and of course, the best of gastronomic Cartagena, in late January and early February in Cartagena start the traditional Fest of Our Lady of La Candelaria and in this context, the nineteenth and Frito Festival I Sample Costeño Bollo.
With the traditional parade this year starts from Bocagrande and after crossing the city, arrives at the Pie de la Popa, was undertaken to begin the festivities ending on Sunday with the procession of the Virgin, from the monastery of La Popa until to the Hermitage.
As source and flow of faith management, the festive music and religious culture of the city of Cartagena de Indias, held such important fiestas that marked by processions, horse rides, shows and other events make this religious tradition, the opportunity for the congregation to rise to the Convent of the Popa on pilgrimage and attend the Eucharist and other religious activities. The festivities traditionally concentrated in the colonial convent of La Popa, usually carried out at four in the morning until ten at night, which is reached by a road surrounded by sugar cane sales, fried and other typical foods of the region.
The Fest of Our Lady of La Candelaria, the most important within the historical and cultural development of the Department of Bolivar and the entire region from the Atlantic coast, owes its title to a large extent it has allowed the construction of cultural identity of this port Cartagena sea, which has always been characterized by high turnover, especially in the export of goods. The city is visible by the exceptional ensemble that preserves. Its streets and squares are traveled easily in a day, to admire among the hanging wooden balconies of the colonial houses, as many details much like "Republican."
From colonial times ...
In the beginning, it was held in Cartagena, at the foot of Cerro de la Popa, raising close to a thousand meters where they worship the image of Our Lady of Candelaria or "Dark Virgin" and then in many municipalities in the region , beginning his celebration nine days before the Feb. 2. Its origins date back to colonial times when a large hall was built especially for that every day she danced as race or class, first pure white, or of Castile, second the brown, third free blacks and so on until concluded with a big party, the day of the Virgin and the following Sunday carnivals were initiated. And is that the poor, free and slave, browns, blacks, Indians, coal miners, fishermen and others were not dancing in the halls, but outdoors the sound of frantic drums. Men and women in couples, danced in a circle as in the current cumbia. The Parejo gave the lady two or three tallow candles lighted, with a handkerchief tied raboegallo and only threw the handkerchief when burned and threatened to burn the dress.
During nine days of festivities ...
The Fest Of Virgin of the Candelaria, held today in Cartagena and Magangué especially, the religious part of which represents the ninth and the "up" the sanctuary of the Virgen de la Popa to the Chapel located at the foot of the hill. In nine days of festivities, the Cartagena, fulfilling an appointment with memory and tradition, goes down the hill and then taking her home, the traditional and typical sugarcane, Cartagena traders have previously located between the road. The Fandango, as it was called historically by the Spanish local folk dance that originates much of the Caribbean musical identity, is a longstanding custom of these, the most prominent patron saint of the department of Bolivar in the Colombian Atlantic coast.
Frito Festival and Bollo Sample Costeño.
For the same day, is celebrated the nineteenth version of Frito Festival and the first sign of Bollo Costeno in the parking lot of the boots, where the most famous fried compete in the city, offering the traditional flavor of fried Cartagena, in the framework of the Patron Saints of Our Lady of Candelaria. And during the last weekend of the Ninth which traditionally is held in Cartagena, it's expected Fried Festival, the Festival de la Cumbia and the famous Horse.
The latter, with the participation of over a thousand horses that final destination, arrive at Pie de la Popa neighborhood. During the holidays, it is equally traditional Parade Candelas, which empties into the parking lot of the boots, home to the participation of some 20 troupes from Cartagena, Sincelejo, Barranquilla and Soledad, who after walking the streets of Pie de la Popa, arrive Frito dancing to the festival at dusk.
While the IV Festival de la Cumbia, is performed in the same parking lot, which is known in folk terms 'cumbiódromo', you move to the award of the Festival of Fried and Cumbia, the best horses and the Holiday choice of the flagship of La Candelaria. The XIX Festival Frito and I Bollo Sample Costeño awards this year in the modalities of 'Arepa de Huevo' from 'Donut', of 'Arepa de Dulce', of fritters and meat pie, the ladies of Cartagena who present by some of the culinary delights of their region. And from this award, it is a tribute to the winners of previous Fried festivals as part of the program this year.
