FESTIVAL OF WIND AND KITE IN VILLA DE LEYVA!

Festival of Wind and Kite in Villa de Leyva! 

In August, I called in Colombia Month kites due to strong winds at this time, the skies of Villa de Leyva is full of dots of many colors that move in all directions by the wind. 

In the beautiful colonial setting of Villa de Leyva Festival of Wind and Kite, during which the participants not only have fun but also have the opportunity to observe the professional contestants in the town square made ​​impressive showings are made, competing in different categories. 

History of Kites 

Kites have accompanied man throughout more than 25 centuries. 

The story goes that the idea of ​​comets born in China where they were used in religious, metaphysical, artistic, military and scientific activities 

Origins of the Festival 

The event was born on August 7, 1975 and since that time has been conducted every year. 

The story goes that in 1980 kite models in Europe and America brought: deltas do not need glue or winds, acrobatic two or four strings to juggle and three-dimensional geometric. After this, in Villa de Leyva began arriving international tourists.

Skills Festival 

The Festival takes place over three days. Saturday is called "soft day" during which participants compete in the following categories: 

• HandMade Kite, 

• night flight 

• kite art 

• kite show 

• Children sport kite, 

• vertical flight, etc. 

On Sunday, the town square is completely full, because it is the "strong day" and the most expected competencies for the public: 

• Individual flight 

• far flight, 

• giant comets 

• flight equipment. 

The Festival brings together fans, producers, experts on comets and lovers of this sport that full of emotions, enjoy the happiness of playing and for a moment, become children.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Villa de Leiva BOYACA

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Villa de Leiva BOYACA

In Colombia, the night of 7 to 9 December is a unique time of year. 

Tonight, the city streets are flooded with lights and sidewalks, balconies and terraces of the houses are filled with candles. This is the traditional Night of the candles. 

At this time it is full of tourists from across the country to enjoy the spectacle and colorful Contest Games Pyrotechnics, in a magical setting of colonial streets. 

The Festival is an event aimed especially to families with children and is an excellent opportunity to feel the spirit of Christmas in Colombia, thanks to the varied program of the event: competition lanterns on display in the religious procession of the Immaculate conception, Christmas choir performances and of course, fireworks displays provided by the renowned polvoreros of Colombia. 

Best polvoreros comprise the various figures and participate in the competition, receiving scores in accordance with: 

luminosity, 

height, 

openness, 

creativity, 

sound effects, 

and duration of pyrotechnics. 

History of the Festival

The Festival of Lights in Villa de Leyva was created in 1986 in order to promote tourism in the region and rescue the tradition of Day of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated by the Catholic Church on December 8, with candeladas, the candles and lanterns. 

The night of the candles 

In the Catholic Church the candles spread in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the time when America was colonized by the Spanish who began to celebrate the religious feast of the Immaculate Conception in the New World, where fire that appeared during the holidays had more folk, fun and festive than religious and symbolic significance. 

The Night of the candles joined traditional religious festival, brought to America with candles, fire and all the festive significance of these peoples, giving the European celebration Dec. 8 Colombian heat and light.

The Aguinaldo Boyacense

The Aguinaldo Boyacense

Is an event held in the city of Tunja, Colombia between 16 and 22 December each year. It is the oldest party in the country, his first release was in 1955, and is a major event in religious and cultural character that identifies the region and is part of its history. 

In the Plaza de Bolivar for 7 days over 20 groups and local, national and international orchestras besides parades floats, costumes and individual ensembles, events, culture, art, sports, children's competitions are met, among others. 

A Christmas full of color and character The creation of Aguinaldo as an official holiday Boyacense Department Police Sergeant Carlos Julio Umana Torres who came up with some police disguise to bring Christmas to the streets should be. In 1959 the festival was institutionalized. 

During the seven-day feast can be enjoyed a number of events and attractions such as parades of floats, costumes, music, cultural events, arts, sports and children's competitions, among others. Butchers: Devils are doing satirical masked dances and play with the kids who watch the streets. 

They are inspired by the Italians who did parodies matachin war dances and the situation of their country. Parade of Floats: Different entities participating in the contest floats competing for their originality, creativity and beauty. They are inspired by current events, celebrities and Colombian myths and legends. Parade of Troupes: Groups of people dressed around a specific topic, design their costumes to satirize some current problems. 

Costumes: Months of preparation participants costume contest in which their own dresses are designed to represent various characters are taken. Caravan Harlistas: Part of Tunja and Bogota to through the main streets of the city to entertain people with its fantastic motorcycles and distribute gifts to the vulnerable population. 

Pyrotechnic Competition Games: The night of lights and fantasy is one of the most anticipated, as a contest between professionals and authorized over on Independence Stadium Tunja pyrotechnic done. Ninth Aguinaldos: The whole city stops activities and celebrations to make room for the prayers and share family time, seasoned custard donuts and Christmas carols to the rhythm of dishes. 

Festivals: are held at the end of each day to enliven the evenings with music and dancing led by more than 20 different orchestras and Colombian groups. It is a free show that takes place in the Plaza de Bolivar Tunja. 

Horseback riding: More than 400 copies of Boyacá horses and other departments through the streets of Tunja. During Boyacense Aguinaldo also performed a military parade, a children's ride on the back of wooden horses, exhibits arts and crafts, musical events of various genres, folk samples, cries, theater, sporting events like the Carrera Athletic Open of Visually Impaired Boyaca ciclísticos circuits and audiovisual displays. The Plaza Mayor of Tunja is the largest Hispanic populations in America. Attend this memorable celebration is a chance to meet the main square of Tunja, recognized as the largest among the Hispanic populations in America and to acquire boyacenses crafts, one of the products that make them stand out in this department. You can find a wide variety of ceramics, baskets and jewelry of Indian inspiration, fabrics made of cotton and sisal and even pieces made of Tagua

TYPICAL DRESS BOYACENSE

TYPICAL DRESS BOYACENSE 

The origin of the costume tasqueño go back to the early days of the Spanish-chibcha acculturation, with innovations that were made later. 

  But being this suit or dress that used? 

What did the farmer boyacense man wears? Denim pants, cotton shirt, cachanga initially and then listed, hat rammed and woolen poncho; in some cases the overburden wool. 

For the holidays rich peasants wore loin cloth bag or jacket or blanket "Samacá". 

Boyacense peasant shirt is usually cotton fabric. 

Another key element in the typical costume is boyacense poncho, personal dirt concentrator; however it was still employed to become one of the indispensable elements in costume boyacense both regionally and in our town 

Boyacense peasant hat is made ​​of rammed earth braid "palmiche" and palm fibers branch or sisal., The rich peasant used the hat jipa 

And what is the traditional dress of women Tasqueña ?. The fields boyacense woman wearing a cotton skirt with wide black flight to the ankle; cotton blouse with embroidery, shawl or mantellina hat cane or rammed earth; alpargates white, tied with black gallon. the wealthy peasant accustomed boyacense an outfit with high quality fabrics and fine ornamented cloth of Castile, cashmere or gasket. 

Until recently peasant embroideries reveal liked hanging from inside skirt, for which the wound in the waist so that uneven stretches remaining a longer skirt the outer parts and look so delightful little white lace parts that are hidden anxious before returning shy and sneak peek. A series of red and white peasant wore petticoats, which showed when crouched. The number of petticoats gave the social position of the peasant boyacense; was a real treat to use up to eight ten petticoats. 

The peasant blouse boyacense is usually white. 

With these same costumes but the new stylish were used for the holidays and prepare to dance.

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CULTURE BOYACÁ

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CULTURE BOYACÁ

The International Cultural Festival of Boyacá also known by its acronym 'FIC' is a major international cultural event held annually in Colombia. Managing various program areas of Music, Theatre, Dance, Literature, Academy, Visual Arts, Film - audiovisual, Cultural Heritage and cultural exchange meetings at various stages in the city of Tunja. The Festival was founded in 1973 under the name "International Culture Week". In 1981 it adopted its current name and eventually went on to become one of the most important events in Latin America. The fund brings together thousands of artists and has more than 300,000 visits to nearly 500 events per version. The Festival was conceived to meet different cultural and artistic events of the international order, which is prologue to 1990 for two weeks, and has enjoyed presenting concerts in which they participated: symphony and chamber orchestras, choirs, soloists and equally folk and classical ballet, traditional groups and street theater and puppet shows, conferences and cinema, art exhibitions, folk art, conferences and book fair. 

The receptiveness of the city has been instrumental in the success of the prestigious event, and no doubt the cultural level that old tradition has identified Tunjanos, year after year, increased their attendance and participation at all levels.

http://www.festivaldecultura.com/