Early Exit EXPLORER

If Colombia knows how to do one thing, it’s celebrate. November 30th — the last day before December — is when the country kicks off the Christmas season with a bang, and the tradition is called Alborada.

Alborada is basically Colombia’s way of welcoming December, and let me tell you, they don’t ease into it. From the early evening all the way until three in the morning, people are lighting fireworks — and not the little ones you see at home. I’m talking BIG, thunderous fireworks that shake the whole city.

As the night goes on, the fireworks only get louder and more dramatic. Entire neighborhoods join in, whether it’s stepping outside to watch the sky light up or grabbing more fireworks to add to the chaos. It feels like the whole city is celebrating at the exact same time. It got so crazy someone accidentally blew up a transformer and the electricity was out for a whole day.

I honestly can’t imagine the United States pulling off something like this. The entire experience was wild — loud, bright, and full of explosions echoing from every direction. It’s one of those moments where you just stand there in disbelief, thinking, “Wow… this is how Colombia starts Christmas.”

What’s even more crazy is today December 9th and their still popping fireworks.