1. By Carmela Dizon
Dia de las velitas

2. Origen y objetivo
Día de las Velitas is a celebration in honour of the Virgin Mary and her Immaculate Conception.
The tradition started mid 1800’s as a religious celebration to honour Mary.
It is a sign of peace, community and family, sometimes a party.

3. ¿Cuándo? It is celebrated on December 7th (day and night).
The Immaculate Conception is celebrated on the 8th. Therefore, Día de las Velitas is celebrated on the eve of the Immaculate Conception.

4. ¿Dónde? Día de las Velitas is celebrated in Colombia.
Touristic places to go to during Día de las Velitas: Bogota’s main plaza (plaza Simon Bolívar), Medellin, and Villa de Leyva.

5. Las actividades
Families would bring food and drinks, they will also share with their neighbours.
Enjoy a nice peaceful night in the streets.
Worship, chant, and pray.
Fill the streets with candles.

6. Otro información
In the 1960’s people who were drunk threw debris into the fire, causing great mess.
To lessen the pollution and to bring back the religiousness of the celebration, they changed bonfires to candles.

7. BY CARMELA DIZON
La Tomatina

8. Origen y objetivo
Two young men where fighting when they used tomatoes from a vendor’s stand to throw at each other. Even after the police broke up their fight, that didn’t stop the young men to bring tomatoes at a parade and start a food fight again.
Each year the fight continued until the early 1950s when it was prohibited by order of the town council, but some townsfolk insisted on creating a fight and were thrown in jail.
The townsfolks protested and this became an annual celebration.
It is a messy but fun celebration.

9. ¿Cuándo? La Tomatina is celebrated on the last Wednesday of August.
It starts at 11 am.

10. ¿Dónde?
La Tomatina is celebrated all around Spain, but it is a very big deal in vAlencia.

11. Las actividades
Food fight (only with tomatoes).

12. Las reglas
People participating cannot bring other objects that may cause an accident
No tearing or throwing t shirts
Tomatoes must be squashed before throwing them
Be careful of any trucks or vans
When you hear the second shot, you must stop throwing tomatoes.

13. Otro información Tomatoes are the number one must in Spanish cuisine.
La Tomatina was started by accident.

14. Gracias!
Bibliography
“The Tomatina Festival Is the Biggest Food Fight in the World.” The Spruce,
Studio, Socarrat. “Los Buñolenses Ya Pueden Pasar Por El Ayuntamiento Para Recoger Su Preentrada De La Tomatina 2017.” La Tomatina – Página Oficial, latomatina.info/en/la-tomatina/history-of- la-tomatina/.
Colombia, Off2. “Day of the Candles or Dia De Las Velitas - Event Details History.” Off2Colombia, off2colombia.com/prepare-your- trip/when-to-travel-to-colombia/colombian-events-festivals/day-of- the-candles-dia-de-las-velitas.
“La Noche De Las Velitas in Colombia {Freebie}.” Fun for Spanish Teachers, velitas-in-colombia.html.